Power saving sensing for reduced sensing ues using partial sensing and additional sensing with a prioritized resource selection window

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods used by reduced sensing user equipment (UE) (relative to a full sensing UE) are disclosed herein. A UE performing partial sensing may use knowledge of resource reservation periods for a resource pool of one or more resources to reduce sensing as compared to the full sensing case. A UE performing resource re-evaluation and/or resource pre-emption may use one or more sensing windows that are relatively smaller than windows used in the full sensing case to reduce sensing. A UE performing prioritized resource selection may use a sensing window to determine availability of resources within a prioritized resource selection window with a high reliability, thereby reducing the need to spend power on other sensing methods (which may include full sensing methods). Combinations of these embodiments are also contemplated.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This application relates generally to wireless communication systems,including systems and methods used by reduced sensing user equipment(UE).

BACKGROUND

Wireless mobile communication technology uses various standards andprotocols to transmit data between a base station and a wireless mobiledevice. Wireless communication system standards and protocols caninclude the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) long termevolution (LTE) (e.g., 4G) or new radio (NR) (e.g., 5G); the Instituteof Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.16 standard, which iscommonly known to industry groups as worldwide interoperability formicrowave access (WiMAX); and the IEEE 802.11 standard for wirelesslocal area networks (WLAN), which is commonly known to industry groupsas Wi-Fi. In 3GPP radio access networks (RANs) in LTE systems, the basestation can include a RAN Node such as a Evolved Universal TerrestrialRadio Access Network (E-UTRAN) Node B (also commonly denoted as evolvedNode B, enhanced Node B, eNodeB, or eNB) and/or Radio Network Controller(RNC) in an E-UTRAN, which communicate with a wireless communicationdevice, known as user equipment (UE). In fifth generation (5G) wirelessRANs, RAN Nodes can include a 5G Node, NR node (also referred to as anext generation Node B or g Node B (gNB)).

RANs use a radio access technology (RAT) to communicate between the RANNode and UE. RANs can include global system for mobile communications(GSM), enhanced data rates for GSM evolution (EDGE) RAN (GERAN),Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN), and/or E-UTRAN,which provide access to communication services through a core network.Each of the RANs operates according to a specific 3GPP RAT. For example,the GERAN implements GSM and/or EDGE RAT, the UTRAN implements universalmobile telecommunication system (UMTS) RAT or other 3GPP RAT, theE-UTRAN implements LTE RAT, and NG-RAN implements 5G RAT. In certaindeployments, the E-UTRAN may also implement 5G RAT.

Frequency bands for 5G NR may be separated into two different frequencyranges. Frequency Range 1 (FR1) may include frequency bands operating insub-6 GHz frequencies, some of which are bands that may be used byprevious standards, and may potentially be extended to cover newspectrum offerings from 410 MHz to 7125 MHz. Frequency Range 2 (FR2) mayinclude frequency bands from 24.25 GHz to 52.6 GHz. Bands in themillimeter wave (mmWave) range of FR2 may have smaller coverage butpotentially higher available bandwidth than bands in the FR1. Skilledpersons will recognize these frequency ranges, which are provided by wayof example, may change from time to time or from region to region.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

To easily identify the discussion of any particular element or act, themost significant digit or digits in a reference number refer to thefigure number in which that element is first introduced.

FIG. 1 illustrates a timeline for performing partial sensing forsidelink (SL), according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 illustrates a timeline of performing partial sensing for SL,according to an embodiment.

FIG. 3 illustrates a timeline of performing partial sensing for SL,according to an embodiment.

FIG. 4 illustrates a timeline of performing partial sensing for SL,according to an embodiment.

FIG. 5 illustrates a method of a user equipment (UE) for selecting oneor more resources from a candidate slot to use to transmit data on a SLtransmission, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 6 illustrates a timeline of performing resource re-evaluationand/or resource pre-emption for SL, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 7 illustrates a timeline of performing resource re-evaluationand/or resource pre-emption for SL, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 8 illustrates a method of a reduced sensing UE for SLcommunication, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 9 illustrates a timeline of performing resource re-evaluationand/or resource pre-emption for SL, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 10 illustrates a method of a reduced sensing UE for SLcommunication, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 11 illustrates a timeline of performing resource re-evaluationand/or resource pre-emption for SL, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 12 illustrates a method of a reduced sensing UE for SLcommunication, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 13 illustrates a timeline of performing prioritized resourceselection for SL, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 14 illustrates a method of a UE operating in a reduced sensing modefor prioritized resource selection, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 15 illustrates a method of a UE operating in a reduced sensing modefor SL communication, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 16 illustrates a UE in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 17 illustrates a network node in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 18 illustrates an example service based architecture in accordancewith certain embodiments.

FIG. 19 illustrates components in accordance with one embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Systems and methods for performing resource selection at a userequipment (UE) of a wireless communication system for (SL) transmissionswith reduced power use for or as a result of a sensing aspect of suchselection are disclosed herein. In some instances, SL resource selectionat the UE involves a sensing of one or more resources of a resource poolconfigured for SL use at the UE. This sensing may give the UE some ideaof, for example, which resources may have already been selected and/orreserved by other UEs of the wireless communication system, allowing theUE to make its own resource selections more appropriately based on thisinformation.

Because such sensing requires an expenditure of power at the UE, thereis value in developing methods of performing such sensing in a reducedmanner that is power-efficient. Further, methods of performing suchreduced sensing may account for the reliability needs on SL and/or thelatency requirements for the SL use case.

FIG. 1 illustrates a timeline 100 for performing partial sensing for SL,according to an embodiment. The partial sensing of FIG. 1 may correspondto, for example, a partial sensing method that may be performedaccording to LTE.

The timeline 100 includes a detection window 102 and a resourceselection window 104. The system may use a resource reservation period106 that is arranged to be used by a UE for the reservation of asubframe in the future that is some multiple number of the resourcereservation period 106 away. In the example of FIG. 1 , the detectionoccasions 110 may correspond to reservations by UEs of the (future)subframes Y according to the resource reservation period 106.

A UE may then select a number of (future) subframes Y from resourceselection window 104 for which to perform sensing (in this sense, thesubframes Y are thus candidates for selection). The selection ofsubframes Y may be triggered by the resource selection trigger 108,which may correspond to the time at which data is ready be transmittedon SL. The number of subframes Y is upper bounded by the size of theresource selection window 104, but in a partial sensing scheme may beunderstood to be less than the extent of the resource selection window104. For example, in a partial sensing scheme, the number of subframes Ymay be located within the selection instance 112. Note also that thenumber of subframes Y may be lower bounded according to systemconfiguration. The use of less than the entire resource selection window104 for the selection instance 112 may use less power versus a UE thatuses a selection instance 112 that spans the entire resource selectionwindow 104.

Accordingly, subframes from the one or more detection occasions 110 ofthe detection window 102 that so correspond to each of the subframes Yof the selection instance 112 are understood by the system to beavailable for reservation purposes for such subframes Y (according tothe resource reservation period 106 as described above). Note also thatin some configurations, the wireless communication system is configuredto allow for some instances of the resource reservation period 106 tonot include a detection occasion 110 (as illustrated).

Then, during the detection occasions 110 during the detection window102, the UE has been (prior to the resource selection trigger 108)sensing for reservations of one or more of the subframes Y of theselection instance 112, during the detection occasions 110. Accordingly,at the time of the resource selection trigger 108, the UE may determinea set of subframes Y of the selection instance 112 that have not beenpreviously reserved by another UE of the system during one of thedetection occasions 110. These subframes may be selected for use for SLcommunication.

FIG. 2 illustrates a timeline 200 of performing partial sensing for SL,according to an embodiment. The partial sensing of FIG. 2 may correspondto, for example, a partial sensing method that may be performedaccording to NR. In NR, it may be that multiple different resourcereservation periods (e.g., up to 16) having a variety of values (e.g., 1milliseconds to 99 milliseconds) are useable simultaneously.Accordingly, it is beneficial to develop partial sensing method(s) thatcan anticipate and use these multiple resource reservation periods. Itis contemplated that the partial sensing method of FIG. 2 may beapplicable (as a non-limiting example) to NR Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X)use cases.

In FIG. 2 , the selection of one or more resources of a candidate slot202 during the resource selection window 204 may be the desired outcome.Similarly to FIG. 1 , a resource selection trigger 206 occurs (e.g., ata time that data has become ready to be sent on SL, denoted n), andresources from a candidate slot 202 of the resource selection window 204(which occurs after the resource selection trigger 206) may be selectedbased on sensing related to those resources that was performed prior tothe resource selection window 204 during detection occasions of thedetection window 208 that correspond to the candidate slot 202. Thecandidate slot 202 may extend less than the entire resource selectionwindow 204, giving power savings versus, for example, methods insteadconfigured to perform detection associated with all of the resources ofthe resource selection window 204.

However, differently from FIG. 1 , and as illustrated in FIG. 2 , it iscontemplated that multiple different resource reservation periods may beused corresponding to the detection occasions for the candidate slot202. For example, a resource pool from which the SL resources of thecandidate slot 202 are to be selected may be configured to use aplurality of resource reservation periods P ={P₁ ... P_(y)} in a partialsensing method preparatory to resource selection from that resourcepool, rather than using detection occasions according to a singleresource reservation period (as in FIG. 1 ). A wireless communicationsystem implementing a system according to FIG. 2 accordingly allows UEsto reserve resources within the candidate slot 202 during detectionoccasions corresponding to one or more of the configured resourcereservation periods {P₁ ... P_(Y)}. In some such cases, the number ofsuch resource reservation periods Y may be 16, but other values for Yare permissible.

Further, the values of any one such resource reservation period within Pmay vary. For example, as opposed to the (single) resource reservationperiod 106 of FIG. 1 , it may be that each value of {P₁ ... P_(Y)} maybe (independently) selected from a range of values. In some cases, thisrange may be from 1 milliseconds to 99 milliseconds, which maycorrespond to NR V2X applications. Embodiments using other ranges (suchas ranges of values greater than 100 milliseconds) are alsocontemplated.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 2 , the various resource reservationperiods P used include the first resource reservation period 210(denoted P₁) corresponding to the first detection occasion 212, thesecond resource reservation period 214 (denoted P₂) corresponding to thesecond detection occasion 216, the third resource reservation period 218(denoted P₃) corresponding to the third detection occasion 220. Thispattern of resource reservation periods and associated detectionoccasions continues on (as indicated in FIG. 2 ) up until the y-thresource reservation period 222 (denoted P_(Y)) corresponding to they-th detection occasion 224.

As illustrated, the candidate slot 202 begins at candidate slot time 226(denoted t). Accordingly, the location of the illustrated detectionoccasions is determined based on their corresponding resourcereservation periods as compared to the candidate slot time 226 of thecandidate slot 202. For example, the first detection occasion 212 beginsat a time t-P₁, the second detection occasion 216 begins at a time_(t)-P₂, the third detection occasion 220 begins at a time t-P₃, up onthrough the y-th detection occasion 224 that occurs at begins at a timet-P_(Y). Thus, when the resource selection trigger 206 occurs (at n) andprior to the beginning of the resource selection window 204, the UE hasperformed sensing at the first detection occasion 212, the seconddetection occasion 216, the third detection occasion 220, and on upthrough the y-th detection occasion 224 corresponding to the candidateslot 202 of the resource selection window 204. Accordingly, the UE willknow which resources within the candidate slot 202 have been reserved byother UEs in the wireless communication system prior to the candidateslot time 226 of the candidate slot 202, and can makes its selection ofresources from the candidate slot 202 accordingly.

The selected resources from the candidate slot 202 may then be used forSL transmission. In other cases, the selected resources may be usedattendant to other methods (e.g., resource re-evaluation and/or resourcepre-emption methods, and/or additional sensing methods, as will bediscussed in more detail below).

FIG. 3 illustrates a timeline 300 of performing partial sensing for SL,according to an embodiment. The embodiment of FIG. 3 illustrates the useof a subset ^(Q) = {Q₁ ... Q_(X)} of the ^(P) = {P₁ ... P_(Y)} that isdescribed above. In other words, the embodiment of FIG. 3 may illustratethe use of some, but not all, of the resource reservation periods ^(P)described in FIG. 2 . In FIG. 3 , a candidate slot 302 from whichresources are desired to transmit data on SL that caused the resourceselection trigger 308 (denoted n) may occur at candidate slot time 324(denoted t) within the resource selection window 306. FIG. 3 thenillustrates how non-reserved resources of the candidate slot 302 areidentified using sensing during the detection window 304 at detectionoccasions corresponding to periods ^(Q) ⊂ ^(P), with a first resourcereservation period 310 (denoted Q₁) corresponding to a first detectionoccasion 312, a second resource reservation period 314 (denoted Q₂)corresponding to a second detection occasion 316, and a third resourcereservation period 318 (denoted Q₃) corresponding to a third detectionoccasion 320. It may be that the methods described in relation to ^(P)of FIG. 2 above are performable corresponding to FIG. 3 with ^(Q). Itmay be that UEs competing for the use of resources from the candidateslot 302 may be configured to use the same ^(Q).

The selection of which of P= {P₁ ... P_(Y)} to use in Q = {Q₁ ... Q_(X)}may be made in various ways. In some embodiments, the selection of whichof P are included in Q may be made respective to a resource pool,

In other embodiments, the selection of which of P to include in Q ismade depending on whether additional sensing is allowed after theresource selection trigger 308. As will be described in additionaldetail below, in embodiments using additional sensing, it may be thatthe data for transmission on SL is identified at an additional sensingdata identification time 322 (denoted d) that is prior to the resourceselection trigger 308, and additional sensing occurs in the spacebetween the additional sensing data identification time 322 and theresource selection trigger 308. In cases where additional sensing isallowed after the partial sensing, Q may be chosen to includeperiodicities values from P that are greater than or equal to theduration of the additional sensing window occurring right after theadditional sensing data identification time 322 during such additionalsensing process. This may be because the additional sensing window maysense at times between the additional sensing data identification time322 and the candidate slot time 324 of the candidate slot 302 fortheoretical detection occasions corresponding to values from P smallerthan the duration of the additional sensing window. This may mean that,as a counterexample using FIG. 2 with the additional sensing dataidentification time 322, Q₁ is not actually included in the set of Q(and note that the first resource reservation period 310 and the firstdetection occasion 312 have been illustrated as dotted in FIG. 3 toillustrate this case).

In some embodiments, the selection of which of P to include in Q is madedepending on the priority of the data that is to be sent on the SL. Forexample, data with a high priority may use a set of Q from P that ishigher in cardinality than a set Q′ from P used for data with a lowpriority (e.g., the set Q may include more resource reservation periodsfrom P than the set Q′). In some such cases, Q′ may be a subset of Q.

In some embodiments, the selection of which of P to include in Q is madedepending on a UE power level. For example, a UE with a medium (orhigher) power level may use a set of Q from P that is higher incardinality than a set Q′ from P used by a UE with a low power level(e.g., the set Q may include more resource reservation periods than theset Q′). In some such cases, Q′ may be a subset of Q.

In some embodiments, the selection of which of P to include in Q is madedepending on a UE capability (e.g., that is set at the time of amanufacture of the UE, which in some cases may correspond to a size of abattery of the UE). For example, a UE with a medium (or higher)capability may use a set of Q from P that is higher in cardinality thana set Q′ from P used by a UE with a low capability (e.g., the set Q mayinclude more resource reservation periods than the set Q′). In some suchcases, Q′ may be a subset of Q.

The selected resources from the candidate slot 302 may then be used forSL transmission. In other cases, the selected resources may be usedattendant to other methods (e.g., resource re-evaluation and/or resourcepre-emption methods, and/or additional sensing methods, as will bediscussed in more detail below).

FIG. 4 illustrates a timeline 400 of performing partial sensing for SL,according to an embodiment. The embodiment of FIG. 4 illustrates uses ofa plurality of detection occasions occurring according to the sameresource reservation period. In FIG. 4 , a candidate slot 402 from whichresources are desired to transmit data on SL that caused the resourceselection trigger 420 (denoted n) may occur at candidate slot time 426(denoted t) within the resource selection window 424. FIG. 4 thenillustrates how non-reserved resources of the candidate slot 402 areidentified using sensing during the detection window 422 at detectionoccasions corresponding to resource reservation periods P. Asillustrated, it may be that multiple detection occasions occurringaccording to a same resource reservation period in P may be used todetect whether a resource in the candidate slot 402 has been reserved.This may occur when a given resource reservation period is of a shortenough length that multiple detection occasions N occurring according tothat resource reservation period (measured back from candidate slot time426 of the candidate slot 402.) fall within the detection window 422.

For example, a first detection occasion 410, a third detection occasion414, and a fifth detection occasion 418 within the detection window 422may all correspond to a first resource reservation period 404 (N = 3).Further, the second detection occasion 412 and the fourth detectionoccasion 416 within the detection window 422 may each correspond to asecond resource reservation period 406 (N = 2). Finally, the thirddetection occasion 414 within the detection window 422 may (also)correspond to a y-th resource reservation period 408 (N = 1). Note thatbecause the y-th resource reservation period 408 cannot be repeatedbackward without falling outside the detection window 422, there is onlythe detection occasion corresponding to the y-th resource reservationperiod 408,

Each of the first detection occasion 410, second detection occasion 412,third detection occasion 414, fourth detection occasion 416, and fifthdetection occasion 418 may be used to sense for reservations from otherUEs in the wireless communication system of resources within thecandidate slot 402, and therefore the UE can determine (at least someof) the resources within the candidate slot 402 that have been reservedby the other UEs prior to the candidate slot time 426 of the candidateslot 402, allowing the UE to make its selection of resources from thecandidate slot 402 accordingly.

The number of detection occasions N for a resource reservation periodinP may have an upper limit according to the number of times theindividual resource reservation period can be measured back from thecandidate slot time 426 and still fall within the detection window 422,as described above.

Further, a maximum N for the number of detection occasions used for aresource reservation period in P may be configured or otherwisedetermined. For example, in some embodiments, the determination of themaximum N for a resource reservation period in P may be made respectiveto a configuration for such an N for a resource pool corresponding tothe one or more resources of the candidate slot 402. In someembodiments, the determination for the maximum N for a resourcereservation period in P is made depending on the priority of the datathat is to be sent on the SL (with, e.g., a higher prioritycorresponding to a higher N). In some embodiments, the determination forthe maximum N for a resource reservation period in P is made dependingon a UE power level (with, e.g., a higher UE power level correspondingto a higher N). In some embodiments, the determination for the maximum Nfor a resource reservation period in P is made depending on a UEcapability (with, e.g., a higher UE capability corresponding to a higherN).

It is further contemplated that in some embodiments, a same maximum Nfor the number of detection occasions may be used for each resourcereservation period in P. In some cases, a lowest maximum N from amongthe resource reservation periods in P may be determined (using thecriteria set above) and then applied for all of the resource reservationperiods in P. This may ensure that all instances N of a resourcereservation period in P fall within the detection window 422. ThisP-wide limitation on a maximum N may therefore result in fewer detectionoccasions to qualify a candidate slot as opposed to methods where eachresource reservation period may use its own N.

It is also contemplated that methods using multiple detection occasionsper resource reservation period as illustrated and described in relationto FIG. 4 may also be used in embodiments that use only a subset Q ofthe resource reservation periods P, with the subset Q being selected asdescribed in relation to FIG. 3 above.

In some cases involving V2X, it may be that the partial sensing methodof FIG. 2 through FIG. 4 is available when the detection window 208 issufficiently large. In V2X cases, it may be that the partial sensingmethods described in FIG. 2 through FIG. 4 are used when a sensingwindow is 1,100 milliseconds. This may anticipate the use of methodscorresponding to FIG. 2 through FIG. 4 with V2X use cases where someperiodic signals are sent/reserved every 1 second (1,000 milliseconds),thus guaranteeing that at least one detection occasion corresponding toa resource reservation period of up to 1,000 milliseconds is within thesensing window used. It is contemplated that embodiments that, forexample, use periodic signals that are sent/reserved with a higherfrequency (less than every 1,000 milliseconds) may allow for use ofmethods according to FIG. 2 through FIG. 4 in cases using a sensingwindow of less than 1,100 milliseconds.

The selected resources from the candidate slot 402 may then be used forSL transmission. In other cases, the selected resources may be usedattendant to other methods (e.g., resource re-evaluation and/or resourcepre-emption methods, and/or additional sensing methods, as will bediscussed in more detail below).

FIG. 5 illustrates a method 500 of a UE for selecting one or moreresources from a candidate slot to use to transmit data on a SLtransmission, according to an embodiment. The method 500 may describeembodiments of partial sensing for SL.

The method 500 includes detecting 502, for each of one or moreresources, whether any other entity has reserved the resource, whereinthe detecting is performed during one or more detection occasions thatoccur according to one or more of a plurality of resource reservationperiods configured for a resource pool of the one or more resources.

The method 500 further includes determining 504, based on the detecting,for each of the one or more resources, that no other entity has reservedthe resource.

The method 500 further includes selecting 506 the one or more resourcesfrom the candidate slot for use with the SL transmission.

In some embodiments of the method 500, the candidate slot extends forless than an entire resource selection window.

In some embodiments of the method 500, the one or more of the pluralityof the resource reservation periods for the one or more detectionoccasions is a subset of all resource reservation periods configured forthe resource pool. In some such embodiments, the one or more of theplurality of resource reservation periods for the one or more detectionoccasions is determined based on whether additional sensing occursbetween a resource selection trigger and the selecting the one or moreresources from the candidate slot for use with the SL transmission. Insome of these embodiments, the one or more of the plurality of resourcereservation periods for the one or more detection occasions isdetermined based on a priority of the data. In some of theseembodiments, the one or more of the plurality of resource reservationperiods for the one or more detection occasions is determined based on apower level of the UE. In some of these embodiments, the one or more ofthe plurality of resource reservation periods for the one or moredetection occasions is determined based on a UE capability.

In some embodiments of the method 500, the one or more detectionoccasions comprises a plurality of detection occasions that occuraccording to the same resource reservation period of the number ofresource reservation periods. In some such embodiments, a number of theplurality of detection occasions that occur according to the sameresource reservation period is pre-configured for the resource pool ofthe one or more resources. In some such embodiments, a number of theplurality of detection occasions that occur according to the sameresource reservation period is determined based on a priority of thedata. In some such embodiments, a number of the plurality of detectionoccasions that occur according to the same resource reservation periodis determined based on a power level of the UE. In some suchembodiments, a number of the plurality of detection occasions that occuraccording to the same resource reservation period is determined based ona UE capability.

Embodiments contemplated herein include an apparatus comprising means toperform one or more elements of the method 500. This apparatus may be,for example, an apparatus of a UE 1600 as described below.

Embodiments contemplated herein include one or more non-transitorycomputer-readable media comprising instructions to cause an electronicdevice, upon execution of the instructions by one or more processors ofthe electronic device, to perform one or more elements of the method500. This non-transitory computer-readable media may be, for example,the memory 1606 of the UE 1600 described below, and/or the peripheraldevices 1904, the memory/storage devices 1914, and/or the databases 1920of the components 1900 as described below.

Embodiments contemplated herein include an apparatus comprising logic,modules, or circuitry to perform one or more elements of the method 500.This apparatus may be, for example, an apparatus of a UE 1600 asdescribed below.

Embodiments contemplated herein include an apparatus comprising: one ormore processors and one or more computer-readable media comprisinginstructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, causethe one or more processors to perform one or more elements of the method500. This apparatus may be, for example, an apparatus of a UE 1600 asdescribed below.

Embodiments contemplated herein include a signal as described in orrelated to one or more elements of the method 500.

Embodiments contemplated herein include a datagram, packet, frame,segment, protocol data unit (PDU), or message as described in or relatedto one or more elements of the method 500.

Embodiments contemplated herein include a signal encoded with data asdescribed in or related to one or more elements of the method 500.

Embodiments contemplated herein include a signal encoded with adatagram, packet, frame, segment, PDU, or message as described in orrelated to one or more elements of the method 500.

Embodiments contemplated herein include an electromagnetic signalcarrying computer-readable instructions, wherein execution of thecomputer-readable instructions by one or more processors is to cause theone or more processors to perform one or more elements of the method500.

Embodiments contemplated herein include a computer program comprisinginstructions, wherein execution of the program by a processing elementis to cause the processing element to carry out one or more elements ofthe method 500. These instructions may be, for example, the instructionsprocessor 1908 and/or the instructions 1912 of the components 1900 asdescribed below.

FIG. 6 illustrates a timeline 600 of performing resource re-evaluationand/or resource pre-emption for SL, according to an embodiment. Thetimeline 600 may illustrate this process for a full sensing UE.

For resource re-evaluation and/or resource pre-emption processes, a UEmay select one or more resources as part of a selected resource set.Sensing is then performed for the resources of the selected set in orderto determine whether the resource should be used for SL communication,or whether one of resource pre-emption and/or resource re-evaluationwill cause the resource to be replaced in the selected resource set byanother resource. Resource re-evaluation and/or resource pre-emption maybe used for, for example, determining whether certain resources areavailable for the transfer of sidelink control information (SCI) andsidelink data. The resources may be, for example, slots of one or moresub-channels.

FIG. 6 viewed one way, illustrates concepts related to resourcere-evaluation. The timeline 600 includes a sensing window 602 and systemSL resources 604. Depending on results of sensing that occurs during thesensing window 602, the UE will use one or more of the system SLresources 604 to perform SL communications.

FIG. 6 assumes that one or more resources may have already been selectedto be part of the selected resource set. In FIG. 6 , the first selectedresource 606 and the second selected resource 608 of the system SLresources 604 have been originally selected as part of a selectedresource set. Then, during the sensing window 602, the UE monitorswhether any other UEs reserve any of the system SL resources 604(including the first selected resource 606 and the second selectedresource 608) within the system SL resources 604, prior to the UE’sresource re-evaluation triggers (e.g., the mandatory resourcere-evaluation trigger 610 (denoted q) and the zero or more optionalresource re-evaluation triggers 612 (denoted q′)). During this process,the UE may note already reserved resources as excluded resources 628, asillustrated (note that while only one excluded resource 628 is marked,this designation may apply to all resources illustrated with an “x”through them in FIG. 6 ).

At (at least) the time of a mandatory resource re-evaluation trigger610, the UE determines, based on the information collected about otherUE reservations collected during the sensing window 602, for each of itsselected resources, whether the selected resource has already beenreserved by another UE. In the example of FIG. 6 , UE has identified aset of candidate resources 614 corresponding to the resources of thesystem SL resources 604 that were not detected as reserved during thesensing window 602 (and note that the first selected resource 606 andthe re-selected resource 616 overlap with candidate resources 614identified at this juncture). At this juncture, if the selected resourcehas not been reserved, the UE may determine that it may be used. Forexample, in FIG. 6 , the UE has determined the first selected resource606 overlaps with a candidate resource 614, Accordingly, the UEdetermines that no other UE has reserved the first selected resource 606and further determines, in response, to use the first selected resource606 for SL communications. On the other hand, if the selected resourcehas already been reserved, in at least some cases, the UE may determineto re-select from that resource to a new resource (causing the newresource to replace the re-selected-from resource in the selectedresource set). In the example of FIG. 6 , the UE has determined that thesecond selected resource 608 has already been reserved by another UE. Inthis case, the UE has re-selected from the second selected resource 608to the re-selected resource 616 (and the re-selected resource 616replaces the second selected resource 608 in the set of selectedresources).

In some cases (not illustrated), a further priority check may be usedprior to re-selection from the second selected resource 608. In suchcases, the UE may instead determine that it (and/or the SL data it ispreparing to send) has a higher priority than the peer UE that hasreserved the second selected resource 608 (and/or the SL datacorresponding to that reservation by the peer UE). In these cases, theUE may elect not to re-select from the second selected resource 608 andmay instead proceed to use and/or reserve the second selected resource608, in the manner that will be described, despite the peer UE’sprevious reservation of the second selected resource 608. In such cases,if the UE (and/or the SL data it is preparing to send) instead has alower priority than the peer UE that has reserved the second selectedresource 608 (and/or the SL data corresponding to that reservation bythe peer UE), the UE may instead proceed to re-select from the secondselected resource 608 in the manner described.

While the sensing that is useable for resource re-evaluation purposesmay be the illustrated sensing window 602 that occurs prior to the timeof the mandatory resource re-evaluation trigger 610 by a sensingprocessing duration 618 (e.g., a time for which it takes the UE toprocess sensing results), note that a full sensing UE may continuesensing after this time for, for example, resources occurring sometimeafter the illustrated system SL resources 604.

The mandatory resource re-evaluation trigger 610 occurs prior to areservation trigger 620 (denoted in) by a re-selection processingduration 622. The re-selection processing duration 622 may be a time forwhich it takes a full sensing UE to determine whether to make resourcere-selections based on the sensing performed during the sensing window602. It is contemplated that in some cases, the re-selection processingduration 622 may be defined by a standard such that UEs from varioussources can be configured to meet (or beat) this time.

In some instances, a UE may be capable of performing additional resourcere-evaluation(s) at one or more additional, optional resourcere-evaluation triggers 612. As illustrated, these optional resourcere-evaluation triggers 612 may occur prior to and/or after a mandatoryresource re-evaluation trigger 610. An optional resource re-evaluationtrigger 612 occurring prior to the mandatory resource re-evaluationtrigger 610 may allow the UE additional processing time to react to atleast a portion of sensing data corresponding to the sensing window 602that is already processed by that time. An optional resourcere-evaluation trigger 612 occurring after the mandatory resourcere-evaluation trigger 610 may be able to leverage an effectively longersensing window 602 and therefore provide even more up-to-date results(and UEs using such an optional resource re-evaluation trigger 612 mayhave special processing characteristics that may allow them to processthis data faster than the re-selection processing duration 622). In someembodiments, a UE using an optional resource re-evaluation trigger 612occurring after the mandatory resource re-evaluation trigger 610 thatnewly detects that a selected resource is not available in the candidateresource 614 may not be required to perform re-selection of thatresource (e.g., according to a standard).

At the reservation trigger 620, the UE may reserve one or more of theresources of the set of selected resources by sending a reservationsignal indicating the reservation of the one or more of the resources ofthe set of selected resources. For example, in the example of FIG. 6 ,the UE may send a reservation signal reserving one or more of the firstselected resource 606 and the re-selected resource 616. This may informother peer UEs (e.g., that are performing methods similar to thosedescribed here in relation to FIG. 6 ) of the UE’s reservation of thoseresources. The time of the reservation trigger 620 may be the time ofthe first-in-time selected resource of the set of selected resources (asdetermined prior to any reselection of that first-in-time selectedresource). This resource reservation signal may be sent in SCI.

The UE may then perform SL communications using one or more of theresources of the set of selected resources. The resources so used mayinclude one or more of the resources of the set of selected resourcesthat was reserved in the manner described above.

FIG. 6 , viewed in a second manner, also illustrates concepts related toresource pre-emption. Under this view, suppose that, the second selectedresource 608 was instead determined not to have been reserved by anotherpeer UE (e.g., the second selected resource 608 was also a candidateresource 614). Accordingly, the UE does not re-select from the secondselected resource 608 and sends a reservation signal at the reservationtrigger 620 reserving the second selected resource 608. However, at sometime after the reservation trigger 620 and prior to a preemption checkresource time 624 (corresponding to the time of the second selectedresource 608, denoted k), the UE performs a preemption check 626(denoted k′). This preemption check 626 may be a further check to ensurethat another peer UE is not signaling a reservation of the secondselected resource 608, which circumstance may occur in spite of the UE’sprevious reservation of the reservation trigger 620 when, e.g., the peerUE has a higher priority than the UE, or when the peer UE has data of ahigh priority than the data of the UE, in the manner described above.

As in cases such as these, the UE may then reselect from the secondselected resource 608 to the re-selected resource 616 in response to thepeer UE’s pre-emption of the second selected resource 608. Asillustrated, the UE’s preemption check 626 may occur prior to thepreemption check resource time 624 by at least the re-selectionprocessing duration 622 (so that the UE has time to perform such are-selection prior to the preemption check resource time 624).

While illustrated separately, it is contemplated that resourcere-evaluation and resource pre-emption are not exclusive as to a singleset of system SL resources (such as the system SL resources 604). Forexample, it is contemplated that some UEs may perform resourcere-selection for, for example, a first resource due to resourcere-evaluation and for a second resource (including a previouslyre-selected-to resource) due to resource pre-emption (as described inrelation to FIG. 6 ) in a single instance relating to a set of system SLresources.

FIG. 7 illustrates a timeline 700 of performing resource re-evaluationand/or resource pre-emption for SL, according to an embodiment. Thetimeline 700 may illustrate this process for a reduced sensing UE.

For example, the timeline 700 may include a sensing window 702 that endsat or before (e.g., ends by) the time of a resource re-evaluationtrigger 704 (denoted q). As illustrated, in some embodiments, thesensing window 702 may end before the resource re-evaluation trigger704, in order to give the UE a sensing processing duration to processthe sensing window 702 (as was described in relation to the sensingprocessing duration 61 8 of FIG. 6 ). Information gathered from thesensing window 702 may be used at the resource re-evaluation trigger 704to perform resource reselection, along the lines of the manner describedabove in relation to FIG. 6 . Further, resource pre-emption may alsooccur along the lines of the manner described above in relation to FIG.6 . After such resource re-evaluation and/or resource pre-emption, theUE determines to include the selected resources 706 in the set ofselected resources. Then, at a reservation trigger 708 (denoted m), theUE may reserve one or more of the selected resources 706 and/or begintransmitting on any one of the selected resource 706 that aligns withthe reservation trigger 708, along the lines of the manner describedabove in relation to FIG. 6 .

Various differences reflected in the timeline 700 as compared to thediscussion of FIG. 6 will now be discussed.

The timeline 700 includes an optional use of preliminary sensing 710,and further includes a resource selection trigger 712 (denoted n). Thispreliminary sensing 710 may be used by the UE to perform an initialselection of resources to initially include in a set of selectedresources described in relation to FIG. 6 (note that this initialselection was assumed in FIG. 6 ). For example, the preliminary sensing710 may be a partial sensing method similar to those discussed inrelation to FIG. 1 through FIG. 5 , the result of which may comprise theinitially selected resources that are then potentially re-selected fromand/or pre-empted in the manner described herein.

A resource selection trigger 712 may be the time of an initialdetermination of a set of selected resource (prior to resourcere-evaluation and/or resource pre-emption potentially applying to one ormore such resources). The resource selection trigger 712 may be, forexample, an identification of data to be sent on the SL. The initialdetermination of the set of selected may be based on, e.g., preliminarysensing such as the preliminary sensing 710. In other embodiments, theinitial determination of the set of selected resource may berandom/arbitrary.

As illustrated, in some embodiments, a UE may not begin using a sensingwindow such as the sensing window 702 until the time of the resourceselection trigger 712. By deferring the use of the sensing window 702until the resource selection trigger 712, power savings at the UE may beachieved over the method of FIG. 6 (which may describe a full sensing UEwith, e.g., a continuously active sensing window 602).

The timeline 700 of FIG. 7 includes a re-selection processing duration714. This re-selection processing duration 7 14 may be used to determinewhether to use a resource or to make resource re-selections based on thesensing performed during the sensing window 702, analogously to there-selection processing duration 622 described in relation to FIG. 6 .However, in the embodiment of FIG. 7 , the re-selection processingduration 714 may be a time that is longer than the re-selectionprocessing duration 622. In other words, the re-selection processingduration 714 may be an amount of time that is greater than a processingtime for a full sensing UE to determine, for each of the selectedresources of the set of selected resources, whether to re-select fromthe selected resource. Accordingly, the re-selection processing duration714 may be an amount of time that is greater than, for example, are-selection processing duration 622 that is defined by a standard suchthat UEs from various sources can be configured to meet (or beat) there-selection processing duration 622. The re-selection processingduration 714 may be determined based on a resource pool corresponding tothe selected resources 706 (said resource pool including any initiallydetermined resources that were not re-selected at the resourcere-evaluation trigger 704 and any re-selected to resources at theresource re-evaluation trigger 704, in the manner described above),based on a cast type (e.g., unicast, multicast, broadcast) of the SLcommunication, and/or may be pre-configured to the UE.

This relatively longer re-selection processing duration 714 may reducethe size of the sensing window 702 relative to the sensing window 602 ofFIG. 6 (e.g., through the UE ending the use of the sensing window 702earlier in order to allow temporal space for the larger re-selectionprocessing duration 714 prior to the reservation trigger 708). Therelatively smaller sensing window 702 may thus use less power than thesensing window 602 of FIG. 6 due to this reduced active duration.Further, the greater re-selection processing duration 714 allows the UEto use less power when determining whether and re-selections need to beperformed. For example, a processor of the UE can use a slower speed(corresponding to a more efficient power use) to determine whetherre-selections of resources in the set of selected resources need to beperformed, due to the additional time available for processing duringthe re-selection processing duration 714 as compared to the re-selectionprocessing duration 622 of FIG. 6 .

The use of the longer re-selection processing duration 714 may alsoallow power savings relative to a resource pre-emption scheme that isanalogous to that described in relation to FIG. 6 above, but that usesthe longer re-selection processing duration 714 instead of there-selection processing duration 622 for preemption checking purposes(and thus allows the processor to use a slower but more efficient powersetting when performing the pre-emption checking for one or moreresources of a set of selected resources). Accordingly, a pre-emptioncheck for a resource of the set of selected resource may be performed ata time equal to a time of the resource minus the (relatively longer)re-selection processing duration 714. This is illustrated in FIG. 7 bythe preemption check 716 (denoted k′) occurring prior to the preemptioncheck resource time 718 (denoted k) by an amount of time equal to there-selection processing duration 714.

FIG. 8 illustrates a method 800 of a reduced sensing UE for SLcommunication, according to an embodiment. The method 800 may illustratethis process for a reduced sensing UE performing resource re-evaluationand/or resource pre-emption for SL.

The method 800 includes initially determining 802 a set of selectedresources at a resource selection trigger.

The method 800 further includes detecting 804, during a window beginningat the resource selection trigger and ending by a resource re-evaluationtrigger occurring prior to a reservation trigger for the set of selectedresources, for each selected resource in the set of selected resources,whether any other entity has reserved the selected resource, wherein theresource re-evaluation trigger occurs prior to the reservation triggerfor the set of selected resources by an amount of time that is greaterthan a processing time for a full sensing UE to determine, for each ofthe selected resources of the set of selected resources, whether tore-select from the selected resource.

The method 800 further includes determining 806, at the resourcere-evaluation trigger, for each of the selected resources of the set ofselected resources, whether to re-select from the selected resource to anew resource, such that the new resource replaces the selected resourcewithin the set of selected resources.

The method 800 further includes reserving 808, at the time of thereservation trigger for the set of selected resources, one or more ofthe resources of the set of selected resources.

The method 800 further optionally includes performing 810 a pre-emptioncheck for a resource of the set of selected resources at a time equal toa time of the resource minus the amount of time that is greater than theprocessing time for the UE to determine, for each of the selectedresources of the set of selected resources, to re-select from theselected resource.

The method 800 further includes performing 812 SL communication usingone or more resources of the set of selected resources.

In some embodiments of the method 800, the amount of time that isgreater than the processing time for the UE to determine, for each ofthe selected resources of the set of selected resources, whether tore-select from the selected resource is determined based on a resourcepool corresponding to the selected resources of the set.

In some embodiments of the method 800, the amount of time that isgreater than the processing time for the UE to determine, for each ofthe selected resources of the set of selected resources, whether tore-select from the selected resource is determined based on a cast typeof the SL communication.

In some embodiments of the method 800, the amount of time that isgreater than the processing time for the UE to determine, for each ofthe selected resources of the set of selected resources, whether tore-select from the selected resource is preconfigured to the UE.

In some embodiments of the method 800, each of the selected resources ofthe set of selected resources is a slot of a sub-channel.

In some embodiments of the method 800, the initially determining the setof selected resources is performed using a partial sensing method.

In some embodiments of the method 800, for a resource of the selectedresources of the set of selected resources, the UE determines tore-select from the selected resource to a new resource based ondetecting, during the window, that another entity has reserved theselected resource.

In some embodiments of the method 800, for a resource of the selectedresources of the set of selected resources, the UE detects that anotherentity has reserved the selected resource, and the determining whetherto re-select to a new resource is further based on a relative prioritybetween the UE and the other entity.

Embodiments contemplated herein include an apparatus comprising means toperform one or more elements of the method 800. This apparatus may be,for example, an apparatus of a UE 1600 as described below.

Embodiments contemplated herein include one or more non-transitorycomputer-readable media comprising instructions to cause an electronicdevice, upon execution of the instructions by one or more processors ofthe electronic device, to perform one or more elements of the method800. This non-transitory computer-readable media may be, for example,the memory 1606 of the UE 1600 described below, and/or the peripheraldevices 1904, the memory/storage devices 1914, and/or the databases 1920of the components 1900 as described below.

Embodiments contemplated herein include an apparatus comprising logic,modules, or circuitry to perform one or more elements of the method 800.This apparatus may be, for example, an apparatus of a UE 1600 asdescribed below.

Embodiments contemplated herein include an apparatus comprising: one ormore processors and one or more computer-readable media comprisinginstructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, causethe one or more processors to perform one or more elements of the method800. This apparatus may be, for example, an apparatus of a UE 1600 asdescribed below.

Embodiments contemplated herein include a signal as described in orrelated to one or more elements of the method 800.

Embodiments contemplated herein include a datagram, packet, frame,segment, protocol data unit (PDU), or message as described in or relatedto one or more elements of the method 800.

Embodiments contemplated herein include a signal encoded with data asdescribed in or related to one or more elements of the method 800.

Embodiments contemplated herein include a signal encoded with adatagram, packet, frame, segment, PDU, or message as described in orrelated to one or more elements of the method 800.

Embodiments contemplated herein include an electromagnetic signalcarrying computer-readable instructions, wherein execution of thecomputer-readable instructions by one or more processors is to cause theone or more processors to perform one or more elements of the method800.

Embodiments contemplated herein include a computer program comprisinginstructions, wherein execution of the program by a processing elementis to cause the processing element to carry out one or more elements ofthe method 800. These instructions may be, for example, the instructionsprocessor 1908 and/or the instructions 1912 of the components 1900 asdescribed below.

FIG. 9 illustrates a timeline 900 of performing resource re-evaluationand/or resource pre-emption for SL, according to an embodiment. Thetimeline 900 may illustrate this process for a reduced sensing UE.

For example, the timeline 900 may include a sensing window 902 that endsat or before (e.g., ends by) the time of a resource re-evaluationtrigger 904 (denoted q). As illustrated, in some embodiments, thesensing window 902 may end before the resource re-evaluation trigger904, in order to give the UE a sensing processing duration to processthe sensing window 902 (as was described in relation to the sensingprocessing duration 618 of FIG. 6 ). Information gathered from thesensing window 902 may be used at the resource re-evaluation trigger 904to perform resource reselection using a re-selection processing duration914, along the lines of the manner described above in relation to FIG. 6. Further, resource pre-emption may also occur along the lines of themanner described above in relation to FIG. 6 . After such resourcere-evaluation and/or resource pre-emption, the UE determines to includethe selected resources 906 in the set of selected resources. Then, at areservation trigger 908 (denoted m), the UE may reserve one or more ofthe selected resources 906 and/or begin transmitting on any one of theselected resource 906 that aligns with the reservation trigger 908,along the lines of the manner described above in relation to FIG. 6 .

Various differences reflected in the timeline 900 as compared to thediscussion of FIG. 6 will now be discussed.

The timeline 900 includes an optional use of preliminary sensing 910,and further includes a resource selection trigger 912 (denoted n). Thesemay be similar in function and application to the preliminary sensing710 and the resource selection trigger 712 described above in relationto FIG. 7 .

Further, the timeline 900 illustrates that the sensing window 902 mayhave a sensing window start time 916 (denoted s) that occurs sometimeafter the resource selection trigger 912. In other words, the sensingwindow 902 may begin a non-zero duration after the resource selectiontrigger 912. This delay in performing the sensing operations attendantto the sensing window 902 may result in a sensing window 902 that is ofa shorter overall duration than sensing windows previously described. Asthere is a shorter duration during which the UE is actively performingsensing during the sensing window 902, corresponding power savings maybe achieved.

The sensing window start time 916 may be determined by the UE relativeto the reservation trigger 908 using a sensing window offset duration918 measured from the reservation trigger 908. Accordingly, a largersensing window offset duration 918 results in a larger sensing window902 and a smaller sensing window offset duration 918 results in asmaller sensing window 902,

In alternative embodiments, it may be that the alternate sensing windowoffset duration 920, measured from the resource selection trigger 912,may be instead used to set the sensing window start time 916.Accordingly, a larger alternate sensing window offset duration 920results in a smaller sensing window 902 and a smaller alternate sensingwindow offset duration 920 results in a larger sensing window 902.

The sensing window offset duration 918 or the alternate sensing windowoffset duration 920 (depending on which one is used), and thus a time ofthe beginning of the sensing window 902, may be selected and/or adjustedby various circumstances. In some embodiments, the sensing window offsetduration 918/the alternate sensing window offset duration 920 ispre-configured to the UE (and thus the time of the beginning of thesensing window 902 is based on a UE pre-configuration). In someembodiments, the sensing window offset duration 918/the alternatesensing window offset duration 920 is a pre-configured value for theresource pool of the selected resources 906 (said resource poolincluding any initially determined resources that were not re-selectedat the resource re-evaluation trigger 904 and any re-selected toresources at the resource re-evaluation trigger 904, in the mannerdescribed above). Thus, the time of the beginning of the sensing window902 is determined based on the resource pool corresponding to theselected resources.

In some embodiments, the sensing window offset duration 918/alternatesensing window offset duration 920 may depend on the power capability ofthe UE (thus the time of the beginning of the sensing window 902 isbased on the power capability of the UE). For example, a UE with arelatively higher power capability may use a relatively larger sensingwindow offset duration 918/relatively smaller alternate sensing windowoffset duration 920. In some embodiments, the sensing window offsetduration 918/alternate sensing window offset duration 920 may depend onthe power status of the UE (thus the time of the beginning of thesensing window 902 is based on the power status of the UE). For example,a UE with a high power status may use a larger sensing window offsetduration 918/smaller alternate sensing window offset duration 920 than aUE with a lower power status. In some embodiments, the sensing windowoffset duration 918/alternate sensing window offset duration 920 maydepend on the cast type of the data to be sent on the selected resources906 (and thus the time of the beginning of the sensing window 902 isdetermined based on one of a cast type of the SL communication). Forexample, the sensing window offset duration 918 may be larger/thealternate sensing window offset duration 920 may be smaller forgroupcast/multicast data than in the case of unicast data. In someembodiments, the sensing window offset duration 918/alternate sensingwindow offset duration 920 may depend on the priority of the data to besent on the selected resources 906 (and thus the time of the beginningof the sensing window 902 is determined based on the priority of suchdata). For example, the sensing window offset duration 918 mayincrease/the alternate sensing window offset duration 920 may decreasewith an increase of the priority of the data to be sent, in order to bemore certain that the resources selected are clear for use with the highpriority data.

Corresponding to the relatively shorter duration of sensing window 902,the UE may acquire less sensing data than embodiments using relativelylonger sensing windows. Accordingly, in some embodiments, it may be thatthe embodiment illustrated by the timeline 900 of FIG. 9 is used incases where it can be determined that a shorter, more precise sensingwindow 902 can be used with high utility. For example, in some casescorresponding to the timeline 900, the sensing window 902 may be used incases where aperiodic reservations within the wireless communicationsystem are desired to be monitored. In some such wireless communicationsystems, the aperiodic reservation window used by the system may itselfhave a period of a certain size (e.g., 32 slots). Accordingly, the valueof the sensing window offset duration 918/alternate sensing windowoffset duration 920 may be selected such that the sensing window 902 hasa duration of that same certain size (e.g., 32 slots), in order tocapture a full data set corresponding to one period of an aperiodicreservation window within the wireless communication system, withoutcatching more (and thus the time of the beginning of the sensing window902 is determined based on the periodicity of the aperiodic reservationwindow).

In alternative embodiments, the sensing window offset duration 918 isitself up to 32 slots (or the alternate sensing window offset duration920, if used instead of the sensing window offset duration 918, isselected such that the duration between the sensing window start time916 and the reservation trigger 908 is up to 32 slots). This maycorrespond to a smaller sensing window 902 than in the previous case,which may then allow for further precision as to only a portion of the32 slot period in the sensing window 902 in the previous case to target.

FIG. 10 illustrates a method 1000 of a reduced sensing UE for SLcommunication, according to an embodiment. The method 1000 mayillustrate this process for a reduced sensing UE performing resourcere-evaluation and/or resource pre-emption for SL.

The method 1000 includes initially determining 1002 a set of selectedresources at a resource selection trigger.

The method 1000 further includes detecting 1004, during a windowbeginning a non-zero duration after the resource selection trigger andending by a resource re-evaluation trigger occurring prior to a time ofa reservation trigger for the set of selected resources, for eachselected resource in the set of selected resources, whether any otherentity has reserved the selected resource.

The method 1000 further includes determining 1006, at the resourcere-evaluation trigger, for each of the selected resources of the set ofselected resources, whether to re-select from the selected resource to anew resource, such that the new resource replaces the selected resourcewithin the set of selected resources.

The method 1000 further includes reserving 1008, at the time of thereservation trigger for the set of selected resources, one or more ofthe resources of the set of selected resources.

The method 1000 further includes performing 1010 SL communication usingone or more resources of the set of selected resources.

In some embodiments of the method 1000, a time of the beginning of thewindow used to perform the detecting is determined based on a UEpre-configuration.

In some embodiments of the method 1000, a time of the beginning of thewindow used to perform the detecting is determined based on a resourcepool corresponding to the selected resources of the set of selectedresources.

In some embodiments of the method 1000, a time of the beginning of thewindow used to perform the detecting is determined based on a powercapability of the UE.

In some embodiments of the method 1000, a time of the beginning of thewindow used to perform the detecting is determined based on a powerstatus of the UE.

In some embodiments of the method 1000, a time of the beginning of thewindow used to perform the detecting is determined based on a cast typeof the SL communication.

In some embodiments of the method 1000, a time of the beginning of thewindow used to perform the detecting is determined based on a priorityof data to be sent in the SL communication.

In some embodiments of the method 1000, a time of the beginning of thewindow used to perform the detecting is determined based on aperiodicity of an aperiodic reservation window.

In some embodiments of the method 1000, for a resource of the selectedresources of the set of selected resources, the UE determines tore-select from the selected resource to a new resource based ondetecting, during the window, that another entity has reserved theselected resource.

In some embodiments of the method 1000, for a resource of the selectedresources of the set of selected resources, the UE detects that anotherentity has reserved the selected resource, and the determining whetherto re-select to new resource is further based on a relative prioritybetween the UE and the other entity.

Embodiments contemplated herein include an apparatus comprising means toperform one or more elements of the method 1000. This apparatus may be,for example, an apparatus of a UE 1600 as described below.

Embodiments contemplated herein include one or more non-transitorycomputer-readable media comprising instructions to cause an electronicdevice, upon execution of the instructions by one or more processors ofthe electronic device, to perform one or more elements of the method1000. This non-transitory computer-readable media may be, for example,the memory 1606 of the UE 1600 described below, and/or the peripheraldevices 1904, the memory/storage devices 1914, and/or the databases 1920of the components 1900 as described below.

Embodiments contemplated herein include an apparatus comprising logic,modules, or circuitry to perform one or more elements of the method1000. This apparatus may be, for example, an apparatus of a UE 1600 asdescribed below.

Embodiments contemplated herein include an apparatus comprising: one ormore processors and one or more computer-readable media comprisinginstructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, causethe one or more processors to perform one or more elements of the method1000. This apparatus may be, for example, an apparatus of a UE 1600 asdescribed below.

Embodiments contemplated herein include a signal as described in orrelated to one or more elements of the method 1000.

Embodiments contemplated herein include a datagram, packet, frame,segment, protocol data unit (PDU), or message as described in or relatedto one or more elements of the method 1000.

Embodiments contemplated herein include a signal encoded with data asdescribed in or related to one or more elements of the method 1000.

Embodiments contemplated herein include a signal encoded with adatagram, packet, frame, segment, PDU, or message as described in orrelated to one or more elements of the method 1000.

Embodiments contemplated herein include an electromagnetic signalcarrying computer-readable instructions, wherein execution of thecomputer-readable instructions by one or more processors is to cause theone or more processors to perform one or more elements of the method1000.

Embodiments contemplated herein include a computer program comprisinginstructions, wherein execution of the program by a processing elementis to cause the processing element to carry out one or more elements ofthe method 1000. These instructions may be, for example, theinstructions processor 1908 and/or the instructions 1912 of thecomponents 1900 as described below.

FIG. 11 illustrates a timeline 1100 of performing resource re-evaluationand/or resource pre-emption for SL, according to an embodiment. Thetimeline 1100 may illustrate this process for a reduced sensing UE.

For example, the timeline 1100 may include one or more sensing windows(including the first sensing window 1102, the second sensing window1104, and the third sensing window 1106) prior to a resourcere-evaluation trigger 1108 (denoted q), and information gathered fromthese windows may be used at the resource re-evaluation trigger 1108 toperform resource reselection using a re-selection processing duration1118, along the lines of the manner described above in relation to FIG.6 (but which only used a single sensing window 602). Further, resourcepre-emption may also occur along the lines of the manner described abovein relation to FIG. 6 . After such resource re-evaluation and/orresource pre-emption, the UE determines to include the selectedresources 1110 in the set of selected resources. Then, at a reservationtrigger 1112 (denoted m), the UE may reserve one or more of the selectedresources 1110 and/or begin transmitting on any one of the selectedresource 1110 that aligns with the reservation trigger 1112, along thelines of the manner described above in relation to FIG. 6 .

Various differences reflected in the timeline 1100 compared to thediscussion of FIG. 6 will now be discussed.

The timeline 1100 includes an optional use of preliminary sensing 1114,and further includes a resource selection trigger 1116 (denoted n).These may be similar in function and application to the preliminarysensing 710 and the resource selection trigger 712 described above inrelation to FIG. 7 .

Further, the timeline 900 illustrates the use of multiple sensingwindows, including the first sensing window 1102, the second sensingwindow 1104, and the sensing windows 1106. The selected resources 1110may be taken from/belong to a resource pool that is configured forreservation according to one or more resource reservation periods (saidresource pool including any initially determined resources that were notre-selected at the resource re-evaluation trigger 1108 and anyre-selected to resources at the resource re-evaluation trigger 1108, inthe manner described above). For example, the selected resources 1110(whether considered prior to any later re-selection activity by the UE,or afterward) may belong to a resource pool that is configured for aperiodic reservation scheme according to one or more reservation periodsmeasured back from the reservation trigger 1112 that occurs at the timeof a first-in-time resource of the selected resources 1110 (asdetermined prior to any reselection of that first-in-time resource). Insuch circumstances, the periodic nature of such reservations accordingto (potentially multiple) resource reservation periods may be leveragedby the UE to determine locations on the timeline 1100 that a previousreservation of one or more of the selected resources 1110 according tothe relevant periodicities may occur. This allows the UE to use aplurality of sensing windows at these locations that may be smaller(even when combined together) than sensing window(s) of other possibleembodiments to determine whether another UE has reserved one or moreresources of the set of selected resources 1110. This may reduce theamount of time that the UE spends actively sensing as compared to otherpossible embodiments, thereby resulting in power savings.

For example, in the timeline 1100, the first sensing window 1102 maycorrespond to a first resource reservation period 1120 of the resourcepool of the selected resources 1110, the second sensing window 1104 maycorrespond to a second resource reservation period 1122 of the resourcepool of the selected resources 1110, and the third sensing window 1106may correspond to a third resource reservation period 1124 of theresource pool of the selected resource 1110. Each of these windows mayoccur prior to a time of the resource re-evaluation trigger 1108, ashown. The UE detects during these windows whether another UE hasreserved one or more of the selected resources 1110 (e.g., when theselected resource 1110 are considered as the initially determined set ofselected resources). The UE the proceeds, at the resource re-evaluationtrigger 1108 to make re-evaluation determinations regarding the initialset of selected resources, in the manner described above.

FIG. 12 illustrates a method 1200 of a reduced sensing UE for SLcommunication, according to an embodiment. The method 1200 mayillustrate this process for a reduced sensing UE performing resourcere-evaluation and/or resource pre-emption for SL.

The method 1200 includes initially determining 1202 a set of selectedresources at a resource selection trigger.

The method 1200 further includes detecting 1204, during a plurality ofwindows each occurring prior to a resource re-evaluation triggeroccurring prior to a reservation trigger for the set of selectedresources, for each selected resource in the set of selected resources,whether any other entity has reserved the selected resource, each of theplurality of windows corresponding to a resource reservation period of aresource pool corresponding to the selected resources of the set ofselected resources.

The method 1200 further includes determining 1206, at the resourcere-evaluation trigger, for each of the selected resources of the set ofselected resources, whether to re-select from the selected resource to anew resource, such that the new resource replaces the selected resourcewithin the set of selected resources.

The method 1200 further includes reserving 1208, at the reservationtrigger for the set of selected resources, one or more of the resourcesof the set of selected resources.

The method 1200 further includes performing 1210 SL communication usingone or more resources of the set of selected resources.

In some embodiments of the method 1200, for a resource of the selectedresources of the set of selected resources, the UE determines tore-select from the selected resource to a new resource based ondetecting, during the plurality of windows, that another entity hasreserved the selected resource.

In some embodiments of the method 1200, for a resource of the selectedresources of the set of selected resources, the UE detects that anotherentity has reserved the selected resource, and the determining whetherto reserve the selected resource or to re-select to a new resource isfurther based on a relative priority between the UE and the otherentity.

In some embodiments of the method 1200, the initially determining theset of selected resources is performed using a partial sensing method.

Embodiments contemplated herein include an apparatus comprising means toperform one or more elements of the method 1200. This apparatus may be,for example, an apparatus of a UE 1 600 as described below.

Embodiments contemplated herein include one or more non-transitorycomputer-readable media comprising instructions to cause an electronicdevice, upon execution of the instructions by one or more processors ofthe electronic device, to perform one or more elements of the method1200. This non-transitory computer-readable media may be, for example,the memory 1606 of the UE 1 600 described below, and/or the peripheraldevices 1904, the memory/storage devices 1914, and/or the databases 1920of the components 1900 as described below.

Embodiments contemplated herein include an apparatus comprising logic,modules, or circuitry to perform one or more elements of the method1200. This apparatus may be, for example, an apparatus of a UE 1600 asdescribed below.

Embodiments contemplated herein include an apparatus comprising: one ormore processors and one or more computer-readable media comprisinginstructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, causethe one or more processors to perform one or more elements of the method1200. This apparatus may be, for example, an apparatus of a UE 1600 asdescribed below.

Embodiments contemplated herein include a signal as described in orrelated to one or more elements of the method 1200.

Embodiments contemplated herein include a datagram, packet, frame,segment, protocol data unit (PDU), or message as described in or relatedto one or more elements of the method 1200.

Embodiments contemplated herein include a signal encoded with data asdescribed in or related to one or more elements of the method 1200.

Embodiments contemplated herein include a signal encoded with adatagram, packet, frame, segment, PDU, or message as described in orrelated to one or more elements of the method 1200.

Embodiments contemplated herein include an electromagnetic signalcarrying computer-readable instructions, wherein execution of thecomputer-readable instructions by one or more processors is to cause theone or more processors to perform one or more elements of the method1200.

Embodiments contemplated herein include a computer program comprisinginstructions, wherein execution of the program by a processing elementis to cause the processing element to carry out one or more elements ofthe method 1200. These instructions may be, for example, theinstructions processor 1908 and/or the instructions 1912 of thecomponents 1900 as described below.

It is contemplated that a resource re-evaluation and/or resourcepre-emption method used by a UE may use any combination of methodsdescribed in relation to FIG. 6 through FIG. 12 . For example, A UE maysimultaneously employ any combination of an increased re-selectionprocessing duration (as in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 ), a sensing window starttime that occurs after a resource selection trigger (as in FIG. 9 andFIG. 10 ), and/or multiple sensing windows (as in FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 ).

Some embodiments for resource re-evaluation and/or resource pre-emptiondescribed above for reduced sensing have been discussed relative to aresource pool of selected resources. It is contemplated that a UE mayemploy such reduced sensing methods as to one or more of a plurality ofresource pools. It is further contemplated that the UE may instead actas a full sensing UE as to one or more others of the plurality ofresource pools (and that this use may occur alongside the reducedsensing use as to other resource pools). Further, divisions ofindividual resource pools into a plurality of frequency domains, withsome frequency domains using reduced sensing and others using fullsensing is also contemplated.

FIG. 13 illustrates a timeline 1300 of performing prioritized resourceselection for SL, according to an embodiment. The timeline 1300 mayillustrate this process for a reduced sensing UE.

In prioritized resource selection embodiments, a UE may identify data tobe sent on SL at a data identification time 1302 (denoted d). The UE maydetermine to send this data on one or more resources of an upcomingresource selection window 1308. The UE may then perform sensing(sometimes described herein as additional sensing) corresponding to atleast some of the resources of the upcoming resource selection window1308, prior to selecting such resources for use to send the SL data.This sensing may occur during an additional sensing window 1312. Duringthe additional sensing window 1312, the UE may sense to determinewhether another entity in the wireless communication system has reservedone or more upcoming resources of a resource selection window 1308 (thatcorresponds to an associated prioritized resource selection window 1310,in the manner described below).

After the additional sensing window 1312 ends, a resource selectiontrigger 1306 (denoted n) may occur at the UE, at which time the UEselects one or more resources of the resource selection window 1308 toperform the SL transmission.

The resource selection window 1308 may include the prioritized resourceselection window 1310. This prioritized resource selection window 1310may be the portion of the resource selection window 1308 that is withina resource reservation window duration 1314 from the end of theadditional sensing window 1312, in the manner illustrated. In someembodiments, the resource reservation window duration 1314 may be, forexample, a duration of 32 slots. The prioritized resource selectionwindow 1310 may correspond to resources of a resource reservation windowthat is immediately subsequent to the one that was (perhaps only partly)sensed during the additional sensing window 1312. Accordingly, the UEmay have a higher level of confidence that the resources of theprioritized resource selection window 1310 have not been reserved byanother entity in the wireless communication system, as compared to theresources found in the remainder of the resource selection window 1308.

Then, at the resource selection trigger 1306, the UE may prioritize theselection of resources from the prioritized resource selection window1310 for selection from all resources of the resource selection window1308. Accordingly, the selection of the first resource 1316 may be based(at least in part) on the sensing that occurs during the additionalsensing window 1312.

In one example, the UE prioritizes the selection of resources from theprioritized resource selection window 1310 by selecting resources fromthe prioritized resource selection window 1310 prior to any resourcesfrom the remainder of the resource selection window 1308. For example,the UE may select the first resource 1316 (which is in the prioritizedresource selection window 1310) prior to any selection of, e.g., thesecond resource 1318 and/or the third resource 1320 (which are withinthe overall resource selection window 1308 but outside the prioritizedresource selection window 1310).

In another example, the UE prioritizes the selection of resources fromthe prioritized resource selection window 1310 by selecting onlyresources from the prioritized resource selection window 1310 (and notselecting any resources from the remainder of the resource selectionwindow 1308). For example, the UE may select only the first resource1316 and not select the second resource 1318 and the third resource1320.

In another example, the UE prioritizes the selection of resources fromthe prioritized resource selection window 1310 by selecting resourcesfrom the prioritized resource selection window 1310 with a higherprobability than the selection of resources from the remainder of theresource selection window 1308. For example, the UE may select the firstresource 1316 with a higher probability than a probability of selectingthe second resource 1318 and/or the third resource 1320.

In another example, the UE prioritizes the selection of resources fromthe prioritized resource selection window 1310 by applying a higherinitial Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) exclusion threshold toresources from the prioritized resource selection window 1310 than toresources from the remainder of the resource selection window 1308.

It may be that a UE considers a resource as reserved by another UE bychecking a reservation signal in SCI sent by one or more other UEs anddetermining whether the measured RSRP of that/those reservation signalsis higher than the RSRP exclusion threshold. If the percentage of theresources that remain eligible for selection is below a certain level,then the RSRP exclusion threshold is increased (e.g., by 3 dB) and a newloop of resource exclusion is performed. The procedure loop may continueuntil the percentage of the resources eligible for selection is abovethe certain level.

Accordingly, in some embodiments corresponding to FIG. 13 , the RSRPexclusion threshold for determining whether the first resource 1316(which is in the prioritized resource selection window 1310) is eligiblefor selection from the one or more resources of the resource selectionwindow 1308 may be higher than an RSRP exclusion threshold fordetermining whether the second resource 1318 and/or the third resource1320 are eligible for selection from the one or more resources of theresource selection window 1308. In some embodiments, the higher RSRPexclusion threshold corresponding to resources from the prioritizedresource selection window 1310 may be set according to a pre-configuredstep amount (e.g., 3 dB). In some embodiments, the higher RSRP exclusionthreshold corresponding to resources from the prioritized resourceselection window 1310 may comprise a maximum RSRP threshold. In thisway, the UE is more likely to select resources of the prioritizedresource selection window 1310.

The use of prioritized resource selection as described may eliminate orreduce the need for/duration of other sensing methods at the UE, due toa high reliability of information regarding at least resources withinthe prioritized resource selection window 1310 that is achieved.Accordingly, the power that would have been used on other methods (e.g.,to perform sensing according to those methods) that are not otherwiseperformed can be saved.

The selection of each of the first resource 1316, the second resource1318, and the third resource 1320 from the one or more resources of theresource selection window 1308 (as applicable in each embodimentdiscussed above) may (or in the case of the first resource 1316, mayalso), in some embodiments be based on preliminary sensing 1304 that mayoccur prior to the data identification time 1302. The preliminarysensing 1304 may be used by the UE to gather initial information aboutresource availability prior to a performance of the rest of the timeline1300. For example, the preliminary sensing 1304 may be a partial sensingmethod similar to those discussed in relation to FIG. 1 through FIG. 5that is used to initially determine which one or more resources of theresource selection window 1308 are available (selectable) for SLtransmission, prior to the performance of any further portions of thetimeline 1300.

FIG. 14 illustrates a method 1400 of a UE operating in a reduced sensingmode for prioritized resource selection, according to an embodiment. Themethod 1400 may illustrate this process for a reduced sensing UEperforming prioritized resource selection for SL.

The method 1400 optionally includes performing 1402 a partial sensingmethod.

The method 1400 further includes determining 1404 that data is to betransmitted by the UE on a SL transmission.

The method 1400 further includes detecting 1406, during a sensing windowspanning from a time of the determination that the data is to betransmitted, whether any other entity has reserved one or more resourcesof a resource selection window.

The method 1400 further includes identifying 1408 a prioritized resourceselection window of the resource selection window that is within aconfigured resource reservation window duration from an end of thesensing window.

The method 1400 further includes selecting 1410, after an expiration ofthe sensing window, one or more of the resources of the resourceselection window, wherein the selecting prioritizes a selection ofresources from the prioritized resource selection window over theselection of resources from a remainder of the resource selectionwindow.

The method 1400 further includes transmitting 1412 the data on the SLtransmission using the selected resources.

In some embodiments of the method 1400, the selecting prioritizes theselection of resources from the prioritized resource selection window byselecting only resources from the prioritized resource selection window.

In some embodiments of the method 1400, the selecting prioritizes theselection of resources from the prioritized resource selection window byselecting resources from the prioritized resource selection window witha higher probability than resources from the remainder of the resourceselection window.

In some embodiments of the method 1400, the selecting prioritizes theselection of resources from the prioritized resource selection window byapplying a higher initial Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP)exclusion threshold to resources from the prioritized resource selectionwindow than to resources from the remainder of the resource selectionwindow. In some such embodiments, the higher initial RSRP exclusionthreshold is set according to a pre-configured step amount. In some suchembodiments, the higher initial RSRP exclusion threshold comprises amaximum RSRP threshold.

In some embodiments of the method 1400 that include the performing 1402of the partial sensing method, the selecting the one or more of theresources of the resource selection window further comprises the use ofa result of the partial sensing method to determine selectableresources.

Embodiments contemplated herein include an apparatus comprising means toperform one or more elements of the method 1400. This apparatus may be,for example, an apparatus of a UE 1600 as described below.

Embodiments contemplated herein include one or more non-transitorycomputer-readable media comprising instructions to cause an electronicdevice, upon execution of the instructions by one or more processors ofthe electronic device, to perform one or more elements of the method1400. This non-transitory computer-readable media may be, for example,the memory 1606 of the UE 1600 described below, and/or the peripheraldevices 1904, the memory/storage devices 1914, and/or the databases 1920of the components 1900 as described below.

Embodiments contemplated herein include an apparatus comprising logic,modules, or circuitry to perform one or more elements of the method1400. This apparatus may be, for example, an apparatus of a UE 1600 asdescribed below.

Embodiments contemplated herein include an apparatus comprising: one ormore processors and one or more computer-readable media comprisinginstructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, causethe one or more processors to perform one or more elements of the method1400. This apparatus may be, for example, an apparatus of a UE 1600 asdescribed below.

Embodiments contemplated herein include a signal as described in orrelated to one or more elements of the method 1400.

Embodiments contemplated herein include a datagram, packet, frame,segment, protocol data unit (PDU), or message as described in or relatedto one or more elements of the method 1400.

Embodiments contemplated herein include a signal encoded with data asdescribed in or related to one or more elements of the method 1400.

Embodiments contemplated herein include a signal encoded with adatagram, packet, frame, segment, PDU, or message as described in orrelated to one or more elements of the method 1400.

Embodiments contemplated herein include an electromagnetic signalcarrying computer-readable instructions, wherein execution of thecomputer-readable instructions by one or more processors is to cause theone or more processors to perform one or more elements of the method1400.

Embodiments contemplated herein include a computer program comprisinginstructions, wherein execution of the program by a processing elementis to cause the processing element to carry out one or more elements ofthe method 1400. These instructions may be, for example, theinstructions processor 1908 and/or the instructions 1912 of thecomponents 1900 as described below.

According to embodiments discussed herein a UE may select betweenvarious resource selection methods. These may include (but are notlimited to) a full sensing method, a partial sensing method, a methodincorporating partial sensing plus additional sensing, a methodincorporating partial sensing with resource re-evaluation and/orresource pre-emption, a method incorporating partial sensing withresource re-evaluation and/or resource pre-emption using modifiedsensing windows, a method incorporating random resource selection, amethod incorporating random resource selection plus additional sensing,a method incorporating random resource selection with resourcere-evaluation and/or resource pre-emption, and a method incorporatingrandom resource selection with resource re-evaluation and/or resourcepre-emption using modified sensing windows.

Further, according to embodiments discussed herein, the UE may make adetermination among these resource selection methods depending on, forexample, UE power level, UE power capability, UE priority, a priority ofdata to be sent by the UE on the SL, a resource pool configuration, aPC5-RRC configuration, and/or a congestion level within the wirelesscommunication system.

FIG. 15 illustrates a method 1500 of a UE operating in a reduced sensingmode for SL communication, according to an embodiment.

The method 1500 includes selecting 1502 a SL resource selection schemeto use at the UE based on one or more of a UE power capability, a UEpower level, a priority of data of the SL communication, a resource poolconfiguration, a PC5-RRC configuration, and a congestion level, whereinthe selected SL resource selection scheme is one of a partial sensingselection scheme and a random selection scheme.

In some embodiments of the method 1500, the partial sensing selectionscheme is one of a pure partial sensing scheme, a partial sensing plusadditional sensing scheme, a partial sensing with resource re-evaluationsensing scheme, and a partial sensing with resource re-evaluation basedon a modified sensing window scheme.

In some embodiments of the method 1500, the random selection scheme isone of a pure random selection scheme, a random selection plusadditional sensing selection scheme, a random selection with resourcere-evaluation selection scheme, and a random selection with resourcere-evaluation based on a modified sensing window scheme.

Embodiments contemplated herein include an apparatus comprising means toperform one or more elements of the method 1500. This apparatus may be,for example, an apparatus of a UE 1600 as described below.

Embodiments contemplated herein include one or more non-transitorycomputer-readable media comprising instructions to cause an electronicdevice, upon execution of the instructions by one or more processors ofthe electronic device, to perform one or more elements of the method1500. This non-transitory computer-readable media may be, for example,the memory 1606 of the UE 1600 described below, and/or the peripheraldevices 1904, the memory/storage devices 1914, and/or the databases 1920of the components 1900 as described below.

Embodiments contemplated herein include an apparatus comprising logic,modules, or circuitry to perform one or more elements of the method1500. This apparatus may be, for example, an apparatus of a UE 1600 asdescribed below.

Embodiments contemplated herein include an apparatus comprising: one ormore processors and one or more computer-readable media comprisinginstructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, causethe one or more processors to perform one or more elements of the method1500. This apparatus may be, for example, an apparatus of a UE 1600 asdescribed below.

Embodiments contemplated herein include a signal as described in orrelated to one or more elements of the method 1500.

Embodiments contemplated herein include a datagram, packet, frame,segment, protocol data unit (PDU), or message as described in or relatedto one or more elements of the method 1500.

Embodiments contemplated herein include a signal encoded with data asdescribed in or related to one or more elements of the method 1500.

Embodiments contemplated herein include a signal encoded with adatagram, packet, frame, segment, PDU, or message as described in orrelated to one or more elements of the method 1500.

Embodiments contemplated herein include an electromagnetic signalcarrying computer-readable instructions, wherein execution of thecomputer-readable instructions by one or more processors is to cause theone or more processors to perform one or more elements of the method1500.

Embodiments contemplated herein include a computer program comprisinginstructions, wherein execution of the program by a processing elementis to cause the processing element to carry out one or more elements ofthe method 1500. These instructions may be, for example, theinstructions processor 1908 and/or the instructions 1912 of thecomponents 1900 as described below.

FIG. 16 is a block diagram of an example UE 1600 configurable accordingto various embodiments of the present disclosure, including by executionof instructions on a computer-readable medium that correspond to any ofthe example methods and/or procedures described herein. The UE 1600comprises one or more processor 1602, transceiver 1604, memory 1606,user interface 1608, and control interface 1610.

The one or more processor 1602 may include, for example, an applicationprocessor, an audio digital signal processor, a central processing unit,and/or one or more baseband processors. Each of the one or moreprocessor 1602 may include internal memory and/or may includeinterface(s) to communication with external memory (including the memory1606). The internal or external memory can store software code,programs, and/or instructions for execution by the one or more processor1602 to configure and/or facilitate the UE 1600 to perform variousoperations, including operations described herein. For example,execution of the instructions can configure the UE 1600 to communicateusing one or more wired or wireless communication protocols, includingone or more wireless communication protocols standardized by 3GPP suchas those commonly known as 5G/NR, LTE, LTE-A, UMTS, HSPA, GSM, GPRS,EDGE, etc., or any other current or future protocols that can beutilized in conjunction with the one or more transceiver 1604, userinterface 1608, and/or control interface 1610. As another example, theone or more processor 1602 may execute program code stored in the memory1606 or other memory that corresponds to MAC, RLC, PDCP, and RRC layerprotocols standardized by 3GPP (e.g., for NR and/or LTE). As a furtherexample, the processor 1602. may execute program code stored in thememory 1606 or other memory that, together with the one or moretransceiver 1604, implements corresponding PHY layer protocols, such asOrthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM), Orthogonal FrequencyDivision Multiple Access (OFDMA), and Single-Carrier Frequency DivisionMultiple Access (SC-FDMA).

The memory 1606 may comprise memory area for the one or more processor1602 to store variables used in protocols, configuration, control, andother functions of the UE 1600, including operations corresponding to,or comprising, any of the example methods and/or procedures describedherein. Moreover, the memory 1606 may comprise non-volatile memory(e.g., flash memory), volatile memory (e.g., static or dynamic RAM), ora combination thereof. Furthermore, the memory 1606 may interface with amemory slot by which removable memory cards in one or more formats(e.g., SD Card, Memory Stick, Compact Flash, etc.) can be inserted andremoved.

The one or more transceiver 1604 may include radio-frequency transmitterand/or receiver circuitry that facilitates the UE 1600 to communicatewith other equipment supporting like wireless communication standardsand/or protocols. For example, the one or more transceiver 1604 mayinclude switches, mixer circuitry, amplifier circuitry, filtercircuitry, and synthesizer circuitry. Such RF circuitry may include areceive signal path with circuitry to down-convert RF signals receivedfrom a front-end module (FEM) and provide baseband signals to a basebandprocessor of the one or more processor 1602. The RF circuitry may alsoinclude a transmit signal path which may include circuitry to up-convertbaseband signals provided by a baseband processor and provide RF outputsignals to the FEM for transmission. The FEM may include a receivesignal path that may include circuitry configured to operate on RFsignals received from one or more antennas, amplify the received signalsand provide the amplified versions of the received signals to the RFcircuitry for further processing. The FEM may also include a transmitsignal path that may include circuitry configured to amplify signals fortransmission provided by the RF circuitry for transmission by one ormore antennas. In various embodiments, the amplification through thetransmit or receive signal paths may be done solely in the RF circuitry,solely in the FEM, or in both the RF circuitry and the FEM circuitry. Insome embodiments, the FEM circuitry may include a TX/RX switch to switchbetween transmit mode and receive mode operation.

In some exemplary embodiments, the one or more transceiver 1604 includesa transmitter and a receiver that enable device 1200 to communicate withvarious 5G/NR networks according to various protocols and/or methodsproposed for standardization by 3 GPP and/or other standards bodies. Forexample, such functionality can operate cooperatively with the one ormore processor 1602 to implement a PHY layer based on OFDM, OFDMA,and/or SC-FDMA technologies, such as described herein with respect toother figures.

The user interface 1608 may take various forms depending on particularembodiments, or can be absent from the UE 1600. In some embodiments, theuser interface 1608 includes a microphone, a loudspeaker, slidablebuttons, depressible buttons, a display, a touchscreen display, amechanical or virtual keypad, a mechanical or virtual keyboard, and/orany other user-interface features commonly found on mobile phones. Inother embodiments, the UE 1600 may comprise a tablet computing deviceincluding a larger touchscreen display. In such embodiments, one or moreof the mechanical features of the user interface 1608 may be replaced bycomparable or functionally equivalent virtual user interface features(e.g., virtual keypad, virtual buttons, etc.) implemented using thetouchscreen display, as familiar to persons of ordinary skill in theart. In other embodiments, the UE 1600 may be a digital computingdevice, such as a laptop computer, desktop computer, workstation, etc.that comprises a mechanical keyboard that can be integrated, detached,or detachable depending on the particular exemplary embodiment. Such adigital computing device can also comprise a touch screen display. Manyexample embodiments of the UE 1600 having a touch screen display arecapable of receiving user inputs, such as inputs related to exemplarymethods and/or procedures described herein or otherwise known to personsof ordinary skill in the art.

In some exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, the UE 1600 mayinclude an orientation sensor, which can be used in various ways byfeatures and functions of the UE 1600. For example, the UE 1600 can useoutputs of the orientation sensor to determine when a user has changedthe physical orientation of the UE 1600’s touch screen display. Anindication signal from the orientation sensor can be available to anyapplication program executing on the UE 1600, such that an applicationprogram can change the orientation of a screen display ( e.g., fromportrait to landscape) automatically when the indication signalindicates an approximate 90-degree change in physical orientation of thedevice. In this manner, the application program can maintain the screendisplay in a manner that is readable by the user, regardless of thephysical orientation of the device. In addition, the output of theorientation sensor can be used in conjunction with various exemplaryembodiments of the present disclosure.

The control interface 1610 may take various forms depending onparticular embodiments. For example, the control interface 1610 mayinclude an RS-232 interface, an RS-485 interface, a USB interface, anHDMI interface, a Bluetooth interface, an IEEE (“Firewire”) interface,an I²C interface, a PCMCIA interface, or the like. In some exemplaryembodiments of the present disclosure, control interface 1260 cancomprise an IEEE 802.3 Ethernet interface such as described above. Insome embodiments of the present disclosure, the control interface1610may include analog interface circuitry including, for example, oneor more digital-to-analog (D/A) and/or analog-to-digital (A/D)converters.

Persons of ordinary skill in the art can recognize the above list offeatures, interfaces, and radio-frequency communication standards ismerely exemplary, and not limiting to the scope of the presentdisclosure. In other words, the UE 1600 may include more functionalitythan is shown in FIG. 16 including, for example, a video and/orstill-image camera, microphone, media player and/or recorder, etc.Moreover, the one or more transceiver 1604 may include circuitry forcommunication using additional radio-frequency communication standardsincluding Bluetooth, GPS, and/or others. Moreover, the one or moreprocessor 1602 may execute software code stored in the memory 1606 tocontrol such additional functionality. For example, directional velocityand/or position estimates output from a GPS receiver can be available toany application program executing on the UE 1600, including variousexemplary methods and/or computer-readable media according to variousexemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 17 is a block diagram of an example network node 1700 configurableaccording to various embodiments of the present disclosure, including byexecution of instructions on a computer-readable medium that correspondto any of the example methods and/or procedures described herein.

The network node 1700 includes a one or more processor 1702, a radionetwork interface 1704, a memory 1706, a core network interface 1708,and other interfaces 1710. The network node 1700 may comprise, forexample, a base station, eNB, gNB, access node, or component thereof.

The one or more processor 1702 may include any type of processor orprocessing circuitry and may be configured to perform an of the methodsor procedures disclosed herein. The memory 1706 may store software code,programs, and/or instructions executed by the one or more processor 1702to configure the network node 1700 to perform various operations,including operations described herein. For example, execution of suchstored instructions can configure the network node 1700 to communicatewith one or more other devices using protocols according to variousembodiments of the present disclosure, including one or more methodsand/or procedures discussed above. Furthermore, execution of such storedinstructions can also configure and/or facilitate the network node 1700to communicate with one or more other devices using other protocols orprotocol layers, such as one or more of the PHY, MAC, RLC, PDCP, and RRClayer protocols standardized by 3GPP for LTE, LTE-A, and/or NR, or anyother higher-layer protocols utilized in conjunction with the radionetwork interface 1704 and the core network interface 1708. By way ofexample and without limitation, the core network interface 1708 comprisean S1 interface and the radio network interface 1704 may comprise a Uuinterface, as standardized by 3GPP. The memory 1706 may also storevariables used in protocols, configuration, control, and other functionsof the network node 1700. As such, the memory 1706 may comprisenon-volatile memory (e.g., flash memory, hard disk, etc.), volatilememory (e.g., static or dynamic RAM), network-based (e.g., “cloud”)storage, or a combination thereof.

The radio network interface 1704may include transmitters, receivers,signal processors, ASICs, antennas, beamforming units, and othercircuitry that enables network node 1700 to communicate with otherequipment such as, in some embodiments, a plurality of compatible userequipment (UE). In some embodiments, the network node 1700 may includevarious protocols or protocol layers, such as the PHY, MAC, RLC, PDCP,and RRC layer protocols standardized by 3GPP for LTE, LTE-A, and/or5G/NR. According to further embodiments of the present disclosure, theradio network interface 1704 may include a PHY layer based on OFDM,OFDMA, and/or SC-FDMA technologies. In some embodiments, thefunctionality of such a PHY layer can be provided cooperatively by theradio network interface 1704 and the one or more processor 1702.

The core network interface 1708 may include transmitters, receivers, andother circuitry that enables the network node 1700 to communicate withother equipment in a core network such as, in some embodiments,circuit-switched (CS) and/or packet-switched Core (PS) networks. In someembodiments, the core network interface 1708 may include the S1interface standardized by 3GPP. In some embodiments, the core networkinterface 1708 may include one or more interfaces to one or more SGWs,MMEs, SGSNs, GGSNs, and other physical devices that comprisefunctionality found in GERAN, UTRAN, E-UTRAN, and CDMA2000 core networksthat are known to persons of ordinary skill in the art. In someembodiments, these one or more interfaces may be multiplexed together ona single physical interface. In some embodiments, lower layers of thecore network interface 1708 may include one or more of asynchronoustransfer mode (ATM), Internet Protocol (IP)-over-Ethernet, SDH overoptical fiber, T1/E1/PDH over a copper wire, microwave radio, or otherwired or wireless transmission technologies known to those of ordinaryskill in the art.

The other interfaces 1710 may include transmitters, receivers, and othercircuitry that enables the network node 1700 to communicate withexternal networks, computers, databases, and the like for purposes ofoperations, administration, and maintenance of the network node 1700 orother network equipment operably connected thereto.

Example System Architecture

In certain embodiments, 5G System architecture supports dataconnectivity and services enabling deployments to use techniques such asNetwork Function Virtualization and Software Defined Networking. The 5GSystem architecture may leverage service-based interactions betweenControl Plane Network Functions. Separating User Plane functions fromthe Control Plane functions allows independent scalability, evolution,and flexible deployments (e.g., centralized location or distributed(remote) location). Modularized function design allows for functionre-use and may enable flexible and efficient network slicing. A NetworkFunction and its Network Function Services may interact with another NFand its Network Function Services directly or indirectly via a ServiceCommunication Proxy. Another intermediate function may help routeControl Plane messages. The architecture minimizes dependencies betweenthe AN and the CN. The architecture may include a converged core networkwith a common AN - CN interface that integrates different Access Types(e.g., 3GPP access and non-3GPP access). The architecture may alsosupport a unified authentication framework, stateless NFs where thecompute resource is decoupled from the storage resource, capabilityexposure, concurrent access to local and centralized services (tosupport low latency services and access to local data networks, UserPlane functions can be deployed close to the AN), and/or roaming withboth Home routed traffic as well as Local breakout traffic in thevisited PLMN.

The 5G architecture may be defined as service-based and the interactionbetween network functions may include a service-based representation,where network functions (e.g., AMF) within the Control Plane enableother authorized network functions to access their services. Theservice-based representation may also include point-to-point referencepoints. A reference point representation may also be used to show theinteractions between the NF services in the network functions describedby point-to-point reference point (e.g., N11) between any two networkfunctions (e.g., AMF and SMF).

FIG. 18 illustrates a service based architecture 1800 in 5GS accordingto one embodiment. As described in 3GPP TS 23.501, the service basedarchitecture 1800 comprises NFs such as an NSSF 1808, a NEF 1810, an NRF1814, a PCF 1812, a UDM 1826, an AUSF 1818, an AMF 1820, an SMF 1822,for communication with a UE 1816, a (R)AN 1806, a UPF 1802, and a DN1804. The NFs and NF services can communicate directly, referred to asDirect Communication, or indirectly via a SCP 1824, referred to asIndirect Communication. FIG. 18 also shows corresponding service-basedinterfaces including Nutm, Naf, Nudm, Npcf, Nsmf, Nnrf, Namf, Nnef,Nnssf, and Nausf, as well as reference points N1, N2, N3, N4, and N6. Afew example functions provided by the NFs shown in FIG. 18 are describedbelow.

The NSSF 1808 supports functionality such as: selecting the set ofNetwork Slice instances serving the UE; determining the Allowed NSSAIand, if needed, mapping to the Subscribed S-NSSAIs; determining theConfigured NSSAI and, if needed, the mapping to the Subscribed S-NSSAIs;and/or determining the AMF Set to be used to serve the UE, or, based onconfiguration, a list of candidate AMF(s), possibly by querying the NRF.

The NEF 1810 supports exposure of capabilities and events. NFcapabilities and events may be securely exposed by the NEF 1810 (e.g.,for 3rd party, Application Functions, and/or Edge Computing). The NEF1810 may store/retrieve information as structured data using astandardized interface (Nudr) to a UDR. The NEF 1810 may also secureprovision of information from an external application to 3GPP networkand may provide for the Application Functions to securely provideinformation to the 3GPP network (e.g., expected UE behavior, 5GLAN groupinformation, and service specific information), wherein the NEF 1810 mayauthenticate and authorize and assist in throttling the ApplicationFunctions. The NEF 1810 may provide translation of internal-externalinformation by translating between information exchanged with the AF andinformation exchanged with the internal network function. For example,the NEF 1810 translates between an AF-Service-Identifier and internal 5GCore information such as DNN and S-NSSAI. The NEF 1810 may handlemasking of network and user sensitive information to external AF’saccording to the network policy. The NEF 1810 may receive informationfrom other network functions (based on exposed capabilities of othernetwork functions), and stores the received information as structureddata using a standardized interface to a UDR. The stored information canbe accessed and re-exposed by the NEF 1810 to other network functionsand Application Functions, and used for other purposes such asanalytics. For external exposure of services related to specific UE(s),the NEF 1810 may reside in the HPLMN. Depending on operator agreements,the NEF 1810 in the HPLMN may have interface(s) with NF(s) in the VPLMN.When a UE is capable of switching between EPC and 5GC, an SCEF+NEF maybe used for service exposure.

The NRF 1814 supports service discovery function by receiving an NFDiscovery Request from an NF instance or SCP and providing theinformation of the discovered NF instances to the NF instance or SCP.The NRF 1814 may also support P-CSCF discovery (specialized case of AFdiscovery by SMF), maintains the NF profile of available NF instancesand their supported services, and/or notify about newlyregistered/updated/ deregistered NF instances along with its NF servicesto the subscribed NF service consumer or SCP. In the context of NetworkSlicing, based on network implementation, multiple NRFs can be deployedat different levels such as a PLMN level (the NRF is configured withinformation for the whole PLMN), a shared-slice level (the NRF isconfigured with information belonging to a set of Network Slices),and/or a slice-specific level (the NRF is configured with informationbelonging to an S-NSSAI). In the context of roaming, multiple NRFs maybe deployed in the different networks, wherein the NRF(s) in the VisitedPLMN (known as the vNRF) are configured with information for the visitedPLMN, and wherein the NRF(s) in the Home PLMN (known as the hNRF) areconfigured with information for the home PLMN, referenced by the vNRFvia an N27 interface.

The PCF 1812 supports a unified policy framework to govern networkbehavior. The PCF 1812 provides policy rules to Control Planefunction(s) to enforce them. The PCF 1812 accesses subscriptioninformation relevant for policy decisions in a Unified Data Repository(UDR). The PCF 1812 may access the UDR located in the same PLMN as thePCF.

The UDM 1826 supports generation of 3GPP AKA Authentication Credentials,User Identification Handling (e.g., storage and management of SUPI foreach subscriber in the 5G system), de-concealment of a privacy-protectedsubscription identifier (SUCI), access authorization based onsubscription data (e.g., roaming restrictions), UE’s Serving NFRegistration Management (e.g., storing serving AMF for UE, storingserving SMF for UE’s PDU Session), service/session continuity (e.g., bykeeping SMF/DNN assignment of ongoing sessions., MT-SMS delivery, LawfulIntercept Functionality (especially in outbound roaming cases where aUDM is the only point of contact for LI), subscription management, SMSmanagement, 5GLAN group management handling, and/or external parameterprovisioning (Expected UE Behavior parameters or Network Configurationparameters). To provide such functionality, the UDM 1826 usessubscription data (including authentication data) that may be stored ina UDR, in which case a UDM implements the application logic and may notrequire an internal user data storage and several different UDMs mayserve the same user in different transactions. The UDM 1826 may belocated in the HPLMN of the subscribers it serves, and may access theinformation of the UDR located in the same PLMN.

The AUSF 1818 supports authentication for 3GPP access and untrustednon-3GPP access. The AUSF 1818 may also provide support for NetworkSlice-Specific Authentication and Authorization.

The AMF 1820 supports termination of RAN CP interface (N2), terminationof NAS (N1) for NAS ciphering and integrity protection, registrationmanagement, connection management, reachability management, MobilityManagement, lawful intercept (for AMF events and interface to LISystem), transport for SM messages between UE and SMF, transparent proxyfor routing SM messages. Access Authentication, Access Authorization,transport for SMS messages between UE and SMSF, SEAF, Location Servicesmanagement for regulatory services, transport for Location Servicesmessages between UE and LMF as well as between RAN and LMF, EPS BearerID allocation for interworking with EPS, UE mobility event notification,Control Plane CloT 5GS Optimization, User Plane CIoT 5GS Optimization,provisioning of external parameters (Expected UE Behavior parameters orNetwork Configuration parameters), and/or Network Slice-SpecificAuthentication and Authorization. Some or all of the AMF functionalitiesmay be supported in a single instance of the AMF 1820. Regardless of thenumber of Network functions, in certain embodiments there is only oneNAS interface instance per access network between the UE and the CN,terminated at one of the Network functions that implements at least NASsecurity and Mobility Management. The AMF 1820 may also include policyrelated functionalities.

In addition to the functionalities described above, the AMF 1820 mayinclude the following functionality to support non-3GPP access networks:support of N2 interface with N3IWF/TNGF, over which some information(e.g., 3GPP Cell Identification) and procedures (e.g., Handover related)defined over 3GPP access may not apply, and non-3GPP access specificinformation may be applied that do not apply to 3GPP accesses: supportof NAS signaling with a UE over N3IWF/TNGF, wherein some proceduressupported by NAS signaling over 3GPP access may be not applicable tountrusted non-3GPP (e.g., Paging) access; support of authentication ofUEs connected over N3IWF/TNGF; management of mobility, authentication,and separate security context state(s) of a UE connected via a non-3GPPaccess or connected via a 3GPP access and a non-3GPP accesssimultaneously; support a co-ordinated RM management context valid overa 3GPP access and a Non 3GPP access; and/or support dedicated CMmanagement contexts for the UE for connectivity over non-3GPP access.Not all of the above functionalities may be required to be supported inan instance of a Network Slice.

The SMF 1822 supports Session Management (e.g., Session Establishment,modify and release, including tunnel maintain between UPF and AN node),UE IP address allocation & management (including optional Authorization)wherein the UE IP address may be received from a UPF or from an externaldata network, DHCPv4 (server and client) and DHCPv6 (server and client)functions, functionality to respond to Address Resolution Protocolrequests and/or IPv6 Neighbor Solicitation requests based on local cacheinformation for the Ethernet PDUs (e.g., the SMF responds to the ARPand/or the IPv6 Neighbor Solicitation Request by providing the MACaddress corresponding to the IP address sent in the request), selectionand control of User Plane functions including controlling the UPF toproxy ARP or IPv6 Neighbor Discovery or to forward all ARP/IPv6 NeighborSolicitation traffic to the SMF for Ethernet PDU Sessions, trafficsteering configuration at the UPF to route traffic to properdestinations, 5G VN group management (e.g., maintain the topology of theinvolved PSA UPFs, establish and release the N19 tunnels between PSAUPFs, configure traffic forwarding at UPF to apply local switching,and/or N6-based forwarding or N19-based forwarding), termination ofinterfaces towards Policy control functions, lawful intercept (for SMevents and interface to LI System), charging data collection and supportof charging interfaces, control and coordination of charging datacollection at the UPF, termination of SM parts of NAS messages, DownlinkData Notification, Initiator of AN specific SM information sent via AMFover N2 to AN, determination of SSC mode of a session, Control PlaneCIoT 5GS Optimization, header compression, acting as I-SMF indeployments where I-SMF can be inserted/removed/relocated, provisioningof external parameters (Expected UE Behavior parameters or NetworkConfiguration parameters), P-CSCF discovery for IMS services, roamingfunctionality (e.g., handle local enforcement to apply QoS SLAs (VPLMN),charging data collection and charging interface (VPLMN), and/or lawfulintercept (in VPLMN for SM events and interface to LI System),interaction with external DN for transport of signaling for PDU Sessionauthentication/authorization by external DN, and/or instructing UPF andNG-RAN to perform redundant transmission on N3/N9 interfaces. Some orall of the SMF functionalities may be supported in a single instance ofa SMF. However, in certain embodiments, not all of the functionalitiesare required to be supported in an instance of a Network Slice. Inaddition to the functionalities, the SMF 1822 may include policy relatedfunctionalities.

The SCP 1824 includes one or more of the following functionalities:Indirect Communication; Delegated Discovery; message forwarding androuting to destination NF/NF services: communication security (e.g.,authorization of the NF Service Consumer to access the NF ServiceProducer’s API), load balancing, monitoring, overload control, etc.;and/or optionally interact with the UDR, to resolve the UDM Group ID/UDRGroup ID/AUSF Group ID/PCF Group ID/CHF Group ID/HSS Group ID based onUE identity (e.g., SUPI or IMIPI/IMPU). Some or all of the SCPfunctionalities may be supported in a single instance of an SCP. Incertain embodiments, the SCP 1824 may be deployed in a distributedmanner and/or more than one SCP can be present in the communication pathbetween NF Services. SCPs can be deployed at PLMN level, shared-slicelevel, and slice-specific level. It may be left to operator deploymentto ensure that SCPs can communicate with relevant NRFs.

The UE 1816 may include a device with radio communication capabilities.For example, the UE 1816 may comprise a smartphone (e.g., handheldtouchscreen mobile computing devices connectable to one or more cellularnetworks). The UE 1816 may also comprise any mobile or non-mobilecomputing device, such as Personal Data Assistants (PDAs), pagers,laptop computers, desktop computers, wireless handsets, or any computingdevice including a wireless communications interface. A UE may also bereferred to as a client, mobile, mobile device, mobile terminal, userterminal, mobile unit, mobile station, mobile user, subscriber, user,remote station, access agent, user agent, receiver, radio equipment,reconfigurable radio equipment, or reconfigurable mobile device. The UE1816 may comprise an IoT UE, which can comprise a network access layerdesigned for low-power IoT applications utilizing short-lived UEconnections. An IoT UE can utilize technologies (e.g., M2M, MTC, or mMTCtechnology) for exchanging data with an MTC server or device via a PLMN,other UEs using ProSe or D2D communications, sensor networks, or IoTnetworks. The M2M or MTC exchange of data may be a machine-initiatedexchange of data. An IoT network describes interconnecting IoT UEs,which may include uniquely identifiable embedded computing devices(within the Internet infrastructure). The IoT UEs may execute backgroundapplications (e.g., keep-alive messages, status updates, etc.) tofacilitate the connections of the IoT network.

The UE 1816 may be configured to connect or communicatively couple withthe (R)AN 1806 through a radio interface 1830, which may be a physicalcommunication interface or layer configured to operate with cellularcommunication protocols such as a GSM protocol, a CDMA network protocol,a Push-to-Talk (PTT) protocol, a PTT over Cellular (POC) protocol, aUMTS protocol, a 3GPP LTE protocol, a 5G protocol, a NR protocol, andthe like. For example, the UE 1816 and the (R)AN 1806 may use a Uuinterface (e.g., an LTE-Uu interface) to exchange control plane data viaa protocol stack comprising a PHY layer, an MAC layer, an RLC layer, aPDCP layer, and an RRC layer. A DL transmission may be from the (R)AN1806 to the UE 1816 and a UL transmission may be from the UE 1816 to the(R)AN 1806. The UE 1816 may further use a sidelink to communicatedirectly with another UE (not shown) for D2D, P2P, and/or ProSecommunication. For example, a ProSe interface may comprise one or morelogical channels, including but not limited to a Physical SidelinkControl Channel (PSCCH), a Physical Sidelink Shared Channel (PSSCH), aPhysical Sidelink Discovery Channel (PSDCH), and a Physical SidelinkBroadcast Channel (PSBCH).

The (R)AN 1806 can include one or more access nodes, which may bereferred to as base stations (BSs), NodeBs, evolved NodeBs (eNBs), nextGeneration NodeBs (gNB), RAN nodes, controllers, transmission receptionpoints (TRPs), and so forth, and can comprise ground stations (e.g.,terrestrial access points) or satellite stations providing coveragewithin a geographic area (e.g., a cell). The (R)AN 1806 may include oneor more RAN nodes for providing macrocells, picocells, femtocells, orother types of cells. A macrocell may cover a relatively largegeographic area (e.g., several kilometers in radius) and may allowunrestricted access by UEs with service subscription. A picocell maycover a relatively small geographic area and may allow unrestrictedaccess by UEs with service subscription. A femtocell may cover arelatively small geographic area (e.g., a home) and may allow restrictedaccess by UEs having an association with the femtocell (e.g., UEs in aClosed Subscriber Group (CSG), UEs for users in the home, etc.).

Although not shown, multiple RAN nodes (such as the (R)AN 1806) may beused, wherein an Xn interface is defined between two or more nodes. Insome implementations, the Xn interface may include an Xn user plane(Xn-U) interface and an Xn control plane (Xn-C) interface. The Xn-U mayprovide non-guaranteed delivery of user plane PDUs and support/providedata forwarding and flow control functionality. The Xn-C may providemanagement and error handling functionality, functionality to manage theXn-C interface; mobility support for the UE 1816 in a connected mode(e.g., CM-CONNECTED) including functionality to manage the UE mobilityfor connected mode between one or more (R)AN nodes. The mobility supportmay include context transfer from an old (source) serving (R)AN node tonew (target) serving (R)AN node; and control of user plane tunnelsbetween old (source) serving (R)AN node to new (target) serving (R)ANnode.

The UPF 1802 may act as an anchor point for intra-RAT and inter-RATmobility, an external PDU session point of interconnect to the DN 1804,and a branching point to support multi-homed PDU session. The UPF 1802may also perform packet routing and forwarding, packet inspection,enforce user plane part of policy rules, lawfully intercept packets (UPcollection); traffic usage reporting, perform QoS handling for userplane (e.g. packet filtering, gating, UL/DL rate enforcement), performUplink Traffic verification (e.g., SDF to QoS flow mapping), transportlevel packet marking in the uplink and downlink, and downlink packetbuffering and downlink data notification triggering. The UPF 1802 mayinclude an uplink classifier to support routing traffic flows to a datanetwork. The DN 1804 may represent various network operator services,Internet access, or third party services. The DN 1804 may include, forexample, an application server.

FIG. 19 is a block diagram illustrating components 1900, according tosome example embodiments, able to read instructions from amachine-readable or computer-readable medium (e.g., a non-transitorymachine-readable storage medium) and perform any one or more of themethodologies discussed herein. Specifically, FIG. 19 shows adiagrammatic representation of hardware resources 1902 including one ormore processors 1906 (or processor cores), one or more memory/storagedevices 1914, and one or more communication resources 1924, each ofwhich may be communicatively coupled via a bus 1916. For embodimentswhere node virtualization (e.g., NFV) is utilized, a hypervisor 1922 maybe executed to provide an execution environment for one or more networkslices/sub-slices to utilize the hardware resources 1902.

The processors 1906 (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU), a reducedinstruction set computing (RISC) processor, a complex instruction setcomputing (CISC) processor, a graphics processing unit (GPU), a digitalsignal processor (DSP) such as a baseband processor, an applicationspecific integrated circuit (ASIC), a radio-frequency integrated circuit(RFIC), another processor, or any suitable combination thereof) mayinclude, for example, a processor 1908 and a processor 1910.

The memory/storage devices 1914 may include main memory, disk storage,or any suitable combination thereof. The memory/storage devices 1914 mayinclude, but are not limited to any type of volatile or non-volatilememory such as dynamic random access memory (DRAM), static random-accessmemory (SRAM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM),electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), Flashmemory, solid-state storage, etc.

The communication resources 1924 may include interconnection or networkinterface components or other suitable devices to communicate with oneor more peripheral devices 1904 or one or more databases 1920 via anetwork 1918. For example, the communication resources 1924 may includewired communication components (e.g., for coupling via a UniversalSerial Bus (USB)), cellular communication components, NFC components,Bluetooth® components (e.g., Bluetooth® Low Energy), Wi-Fi® components,and other communication components.

Instructions 1912 may comprise software, a program, an application, anapplet, an app, or other executable code for causing at least any of theprocessors 1906 to perform any one or more of the methodologiesdiscussed herein. The instructions 1912 may reside, completely orpartially, within at least one of the processors 1906 (e.g., within theprocessor’s cache memory), the memory/storage devices 1914, or anysuitable combination thereof. Furthermore, any portion of theinstructions 1912 may be transferred to the hardware resources 1902 fromany combination of the peripheral devices 1904 or the databases 1920.Accordingly, the memory of the processors 1906, the memory/storagedevices 1914, the peripheral devices 1904, and the databases 1920 areexamples of computer-readable and machine-readable media.

Any of the above described embodiments may be combined with any otherembodiment (or combination of embodiments), unless explicitly statedotherwise. The foregoing description of one or more implementationsprovides illustration and description, but is not intended to beexhaustive or to limit the scope of embodiments to the precise formdisclosed. Modifications and variations are possible in light of theabove teachings or may be acquired from practice of various embodiments.

Embodiments and implementations of the systems and methods describedherein may include various operations, which may be embodied inmachine-executable instructions to be executed by a computer system. Acomputer system may include one or more general-purpose orspecial-purpose computers (or other electronic devices). The computersystem may include hardware components that include specific logic forperforming the operations or may include a combination of hardware,software, and/or firmware.

It should be recognized that the systems described herein includedescriptions of specific embodiments. These embodiments can be combinedinto single systems, partially combined into other systems, split intomultiple systems or divided or combined in other ways. In addition, itis contemplated that parameters, attributes, aspects, etc. of oneembodiment can be used in another embodiment. The parameters,attributes, aspects, etc. are merely described in one or moreembodiments for clarity, and it is recognized that the parameters,attributes, aspects, etc. can be combined with or substituted forparameters, attributes, aspects, etc. of another embodiment unlessspecifically disclaimed herein.

It is well understood that the use of personally identifiableinformation should follow privacy policies and practices that aregenerally recognized as meeting or exceeding industry or governmentalrequirements for maintaining the privacy of users. In particular,personally identifiable information data should be managed and handledso as to minimize risks of unintentional or unauthorized access or use,and the nature of authorized use should be clearly indicated to users.

Although the foregoing has been described in some detail for purposes ofclarity, it will be apparent that certain changes and modifications maybe made without departing from the principles thereof. It should benoted that there are many alternative ways of implementing both theprocesses and apparatuses described herein. Accordingly, the presentembodiments are to be considered illustrative and not restrictive, andthe description is not to be limited to the details given herein, butmay be modified within the scope and equivalents of the appended claims.

1. A method of a user equipment (UE) for selecting one or more resourcesfrom a candidate slot to use to transmit data on a sidelink (SL)transmission, comprising: detecting, for each of the one or moreresources, whether any other entity has reserved the resource, whereinthe detecting is performed during one or more detection occasions thatoccur according to one or more of a plurality of resource reservationperiods configured for a resource pool of the one or more resources;determining, based on the detecting, for each of the one or moreresources, that no other entity has reserved the resource; and selectingthe one or more resources from the candidate slot for use with the SLtransmission.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the candidate slotextends for less than an entire resource selection window.
 3. The methodof claim 1, wherein the one or more of the plurality of the resourcereservation periods for the one or more detection occasions is a subsetof all resource reservation periods configured for the resource pool. 4.The method of claim 3, wherein the one or more of the plurality ofresource reservation periods for the one or more detection occasions isdetermined based on whether additional sensing occurs between a resourceselection trigger and the selecting the one or more resources from thecandidate slot for use with the SL transmission.
 5. The method of claim3, wherein the one or more of the plurality of resource reservationperiods for the one or more detection occasions is determined based on apriority of the data.
 6. The method of claim 3, wherein the one or moreof the plurality of resource reservation periods for the one or moredetection occasions is determined based on a power level of the UE. 7.The method of claim 3, wherein the one or more of the plurality ofresource reservation periods for the one or more detection occasions isdetermined based on a UE capability.
 8. The method of claim 1, whereinthe one or more detection occasions comprises a plurality of detectionoccasions that occur according to the same resource reservation periodof the number of resource reservation periods.
 9. The method of claim 8,wherein a number of the plurality of detection occasions that occuraccording to the same resource reservation period is pre-configured forthe resource pool of the one or more resources.
 10. The method of claim8, wherein a number of the plurality of detection occasions that occuraccording to the same resource reservation period is determined based ona priority of the data.
 11. The method of claim 8, wherein a number ofthe plurality of detection occasions that occur according to the sameresource reservation period is determined based on a power level of theUE.
 12. The method of claim 8, wherein a number of the plurality ofdetection occasions that occur according to the same resourcereservation period is determined based on a UE capability.
 13. A methodof a user equipment (UE) operating in a reduced sensing mode forprioritized resource selection, comprising: determining that data is tobe transmitted by the UE on a sidelink (SL) transmission; detecting,during a sensing window spanning from a time of the determination thatthe data is to be transmitted, whether any other entity has reserved oneor more resources of a resource selection window; identifying aprioritized resource selection window of the resource selection windowthat is within a configured resource reservation window duration from anend of the sensing window; selecting, after an expiration of the sensingwindow, one or more of the resources of the resource selection window,wherein the selecting prioritizes a selection of resources from theprioritized resource selection window over the selection of resourcesfrom a remainder of the resource selection window; transmitting the dataon the SL transmission using the selected resources.
 14. The method ofclaim 13, wherein the selecting prioritizes the selection of resourcesfrom the prioritized resource selection window by selecting onlyresources from the prioritized resource selection window.
 15. The methodof claim 13, wherein the selecting prioritizes the selection ofresources from the prioritized resource selection window by selectingresources from the prioritized resource selection window with a higherprobability than resources from the remainder of the resource selectionwindow.
 16. The method of claim 13, wherein the selecting prioritizesthe selection of resources from the prioritized resource selectionwindow by applying a higher initial Reference Signal Received Power(RSRP) exclusion threshold to resources from the prioritized resourceselection window than to resources from the remainder of the resourceselection window.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the higher initialRSRP exclusion threshold is set according to a pre-configured stepamount.
 18. The method of claim 16, wherein the higher initial RSRPexclusion threshold comprises a maximum RSRP threshold.
 19. The methodof claim 13, further comprising performing a partial sensing methodprior to determining that the data is to be transmitted, and wherein theselecting the one or more of the resources of the resource selectionwindow further comprises the use of a result of the partial sensingmethod to determine selectable resources.
 20. A method of a userequipment (UE) operating in a reduced sensing mode for sidelink (SL)communication, comprising: selecting a SL resource selection scheme touse at the UE based on one or more of a UE power capability, a UE powerlevel, a priority of data of the SL communication, a resource poolconfiguration, a PC5 Radio Resource Control (PC5-RRC) configuration, anda congestion level; wherein the selected SL resource selection scheme isone of a partial sensing selection scheme and a random selection scheme.21-22. (canceled)